Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - May 1, 2001 - Meeting with Mohsen Rezai and Consultations Regarding the Presidential Election

Hashemi's Participation in the Conference for Political Ideology Training of the Basij and Listening to Relevant Reports

Meeting with Ahmad Jibril for Political and Regional Consultations

Meeting with Seyyed Shahabuddin Sadr for Electoral and Professional Consultations

Meeting with Ebrahim Asgarzadeh for Political and Electoral Consultations

Meeting with Mohsen Rezai and Consultations Regarding the Presidential Election

Registration of Abdollah Jassbi and Mohsen Sazegara for the Presidential Election

Complete Daily Record:

I went to the Hosseiniyeh of the Lovers of Shahid for the opening of the conference on political ideology training for the Basij. Mr. Mohseni, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Tehran's Basij, reported that training is being provided in 36,000 Basij bases for intellectual, ideological, and political matters. I delivered a lengthy speech on strengthening beliefs, political education, and the necessity of ongoing jihad. A large and emotionally charged crowd attended.

In my office, I met with Mr. Ahmad Jibril, the Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He provided an analysis of the defeat of Ehud Barak, the former Israeli Prime Minister, in pursuing peace, and highlighted the significant attention given by Israelis to Ariel Sharon, whom they consider the last Jewish king. He mentioned Sharon's iron fist and the lack of serious support from the Islamic world and Arabs for the Palestinians, warning of the risk of Palestinians becoming exhausted under immense pressure. He expressed dissatisfaction with the Tehran conference for only focusing on slogans without taking significant executive actions, such as forming a relief fund and Iran's initiative to provide assistance through that fund, which was proposed but not realized. I noted that the struggle has become limited to people within the occupied territories, and Palestinians abroad and refugees are not participating with Arab and Islamic governments; efforts should be made to extend the struggle beyond Palestine. He complained that he had not been invited to Iran in the past five years. I told him that there is no need for an invitation; he should come himself.

In the afternoon, Dr. Shahab Sadr, the former head of the Medical System Organization, came to discuss electoral matters and expressed dissatisfaction with the monopolistic tendencies of the reformists. He consulted with me about his candidacy for the presidency. Mr. Ebrahim Asgarzadeh, a member of the Tehran City Council, also visited. He expressed his desire to run, believing he could capture several million votes from Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, considering the slogans he has borrowed from Khatami. He consulted me, and I expressed skepticism about his chances of success, cautioning that he might create enemies for himself and face rejection from the Guardian Council. However, I noted that his candidacy could still benefit the election's vitality. He mentioned that there has been severe discord among the reformists.

Mr. Mohsen Rezai, the Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, came to seek advice regarding his presidential candidacy. I informed him that he would not succeed and would likely receive two to three million votes. He suggested that reaching five million votes would be a good outcome. He criticized the behavior of the reformists. Registration for the elections began today, with 67 candidates, including Abdollah Jassbi and Mohsen Sazegara, signing up. Reports indicated increased violence in the student unrest in the Kabylie region of Algeria, with casualties on both sides.