Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - May 3, 2001 - Following the Sudden Announcement of His Readiness in Mid-August of the Previous Year and Speculations Regarding Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, He Registered for the Upcoming Presidential Election

Following the sudden announcement of his readiness in mid-August of the previous year and various speculations, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami registered for the upcoming presidential election. Hashemi's account, quoting others, finds Khatami's delicate and charming manner intriguing.

Hashemi's account of the strong statements and positions taken by several human rights organizations against Ayatollah Khamenei.

Complete Daily Record:

Ifft, Faezah, Sara, and Qudsī went to visit the historic village of Abyaneh. Mohsen returned from mountain climbing, and we had breakfast together, discussing the children's work plans and the current situation in the country as well as the upcoming presidential election. Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami finally registered today and, in an interview with the media, acknowledged his doubts and concerns about his ability to fulfill his duties. Western media provided extensive coverage of his actions and statements. Some believe that this promotional style of charm and delicacy has had a negative impact on public opinion, while others think it has been beneficial for attracting more votes.

Several human rights organizations have recently expressed sharp criticisms against Ayatollah Khamenei, listing him among the top ten world leaders hostile to the press. Others on this list include Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, Jiang Zemin, the President of China, Fidel Castro, the President of Cuba, Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, Mullah Omar, the leader of the Taliban, and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Following the Intifada conference in Tehran, the U.S. has launched severe attacks branding Iran and its leadership as supporters of terrorism, accusing them of backing Palestinian and Lebanese fighters. The U.S. Secretary of State explicitly threatened Iran yesterday, stating that they will not allow Iran to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

In the Philippines, a state of emergency has been declared to quell a rebellion. It has been reported that the opposition's plan involved the assassination of former President Joseph Estrada and current President Gloria Arroyo. In this context, insurgents surrounded the presidential palace and forcibly entered. The current president met with the former president in prison.

The U.S. has announced that the Chinese government is not providing adequate power for personnel dispatched to investigate the spy plane incident. Israel has stated that the Syrian army must withdraw from Lebanon, and Bashar al-Assad has made strong remarks against Israel. In Herat, Afghanistan, a bomb explosion killed a Sunni cleric fleeing from Mashhad along with seven others, after which a group attacked and set fire to the Iranian consulate.