Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - March 3, 2000 - Concerns of Sheikh Mohammad Hassan Rahimian and Commander Ahmadian Following the Preliminary Results of the Sixth Parliamentary Election

Continued visits to Hormozgan Province and inspections of Army and IRGC naval facilities.
Telephone consultation with Ali Larijani on a targeted media response to the Belgian court's actions, and Hashemi's recommendation to hold off for now.
Concerns expressed by Sheikh Mohammad Hassan Rahimian and Commander Ahmadian following the preliminary results of the Sixth Parliamentary Election.

I didn’t sleep well and was tired today. After breakfast, we went to the radar center at Mesen Base and observed how they monitor vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Then, we visited the village of Mesen, where we inspected a breakwater that the IRGC is building for the village’s fishermen. Previously, the villagers had used the current IRGC dock, and in compensation for taking it over, they are constructing this breakwater and a calm basin for them.

The villagers gathered around us. There are about 300 households, and they said their primary occupation is fishing, with no other source of income. This is the situation for all 60 villages on Qeshm Island, as they lack water for agriculture or livestock, and there are no significant industries in the villages. However, the Qeshm Free Zone has improved their living conditions. They were constructing a large water reservoir to store rainwater.

We then went to see the secure IRGC tunnels under one of Qeshm Island’s hills. About 1,300 meters of spacious tunnels have been dug and constructed as shelters for military equipment. Afterward, we returned to our base, where I rested until 11:00 AM.

We then took a patrol boat to the location of the military exercise and transferred to the large logistics ship, Khark. The ship had returned from Saudi Arabia the night before. The ship’s commander reported on the friendly visit to Saudi Arabia, saying that since your trip and the renewal of Iran-Saudi relations, military exchanges have increased. The Saudis have treated them well and even allowed visits to Mecca and Medina. From the ship’s deck, we watched the parade of Army and IRGC warships. We then performed group prayers. After lunch and a brief interview, we flew back to the island by helicopter.

Dr. [Ali] Larijani, [Head of IRIB], called from Tehran and suggested that a response to the Belgian judge’s action should be initiated, especially as it aligns with statements made by Akbar Ganji. He recommended a media response during the evening news. I told him to hold off until we could prepare and accompany it with concrete actions. He said he would contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant officials.

I rested and studied until the afternoon, then we departed for Tehran. During the trip, Mr. [Mohammad Hassan] Rahimian, Head of the Martyrs Foundation, expressed frustration and concern about the left-wing faction's actions. Mr. [Ali Akbar] Ahmadian, Commander of the IRGC Navy, said he feels the revolution is at risk and sought solutions.

Chechen fighters reportedly killed about 38 Russian soldiers, prompting Russia to declare a national day of mourning. General [Augusto] Pinochet, [former President of Chile], returned to his country after 17 months of detention in London and was greeted by some of his supporters in Chile.