Diary of Akbar Hashemi - February 3, 2002 Continuation of the Controversies Between the Majlis and the Judiciary: This Time, Sheikh Mohammad Niazi’s Response to Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi

Meeting with the Brazilian Ambassador in Tehran

Meeting with Seyyed Mohammad Jahromi Regarding Political, Electoral Consultations, and Development of the Guardian Council’s Structure in Provincial Supervision Offices

Important Meeting with Ahmad Tavakkoli, Which Contains Key Points

Visit to the Air Force Headquarters

Continuation of the Controversies Between the Majlis and the Judiciary: This Time, Sheikh Mohammad Niazi’s Response to Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi

Full Diary Entry:

In Argentina, the Supreme Court declared the government’s action to limit withdrawals from bank accounts illegal, and since the banks cannot withstand the withdrawals, the government has ordered the banks to temporarily shut down and has filed a complaint against the Supreme Court. This has led to a political and economic crisis that has worsened the situation.

Mr. Cesario Melantonionto, the Brazilian ambassador, visited; he is active and well-informed. He stated that Brazil is willing to cooperate with Iran on the topics of generic drug production and drug trafficking. He provided explanations about a conference of 60,000 social participants and the common market of the Americas, along with the prolonged drought and his country’s foreign debts.

Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Jahromi, [head of the Expediency Council's commissions and Executive Deputy of the Guardian Council], came for matters related to the Council and consulted on the reorganization of the Guardian Council to supervise elections.

Mr. Ahmad Tavakkoli arrived. He initially praised me and the blessings God has granted me, then explained the history of the fight against corruption in other countries and requested my support and recommendations for the anti-corruption program. I stated that combating corruption is a permanent and unceasing duty, but the noise and uproar and the advertisements that have arisen in Iran, along with the lack of planning and immature actions, result in the opposite effect and lead to public distrust of the system; similar to the issue of embezzlement of public funds that was raised years ago, starting with the Tehran municipality case and ending with the same flawed outcome.

In the evening, I went to the Air Force Headquarters; they held a ceremony for the Fajr decade, inviting retirees and their families. There was a report from Mr. Majid Aghighi Ravan, [commander of the Air Force], followed by the awarding of prizes and then my speech about the commendable services of the Air Force in the war and incidents and the honors of the Sacred Defense, as well as the appropriate global reactions to the statements of the U.S. president, who labeled Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as an “Axis of Evil” and issued threats.

Significant events include a heavy earthquake in western Turkey, a widespread storm in eastern America and England, and a large forest fire in France. Mr. Mohammad Niazi, [head of the Armed Forces Judiciary Organization], has given a detailed response to Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, [head of the Majlis].