Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - January 5, 2002 - Suspension of the Law Passed by Parliament for Purchasing Military Service with the Authority of the Commander-in-Chief

Participation in the Ceremony Honoring Soldiers at the Army Headquarters in the Company of Major General Mohammad Salimi, the then Commander of the Army, and Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi, the then Head of the Ideological and Political Organization of the Armed Forces.

An important point in this entry is the suspension of the law passed by the parliament regarding the purchase of military service, under the authority of the Commander-in-Chief.

Consultative Meeting with Ali Akbar Velayati and Alaaeddin Boroujerdi, a Member of Parliament, Expressing Discontent with Abdullah Jasbi and Restating the Controversial Speech by Seyyed Ali Akbar Mohtashami in Parliament against the Citizenship and Background of Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.

Meeting with Seyyed Mohammad Baqir and Seyyed Abdul-Sahib Hakim for Political Consultations.

Consultation with Hossein Ghasemi, the then CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Regarding the Burial of Unknown Martyrs in Kish, which was a new policy in the country, amid some resistance, and Hashemi's Recommendation to Comply with the Request of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Complete Daily Entry:

In the morning, we went to the Army Headquarters for the inauguration of the "Honor of the Soldier" ceremony. After a military reception with General [Mohammad] Salimi, the Army Commander, and Dr. [Seyyed Mahmoud] Alavi, the head of the ideological and political organization, we visited an exhibition and received explanations. In the amphitheater, a poem praising soldiers and a song on the same theme were performed. Mr. Alavi welcomed the guests, and I presented awards to distinguished soldiers. In my speech, I praised the role of the armed forces and the army in the holy defense and current security. Due to the psychological impact of the law regarding the purchase of military service, the law is currently suspended. As a remembrance of the command during the war, I received a gift.

Before noon, Dr. [Ali Akbar] Velayati, [Advisor to the Leader on International Affairs], and [Alaaeddin] Boroujerdi, a Member of Parliament, arrived. They criticized Dr. [Abdullah] Jasbi, [the head of Azad University], claiming that after the elections, he distanced himself from the right-wing and accused him of compromising with reformists, particularly in Boroujerd and the weekly Farhikhtegan. They reported on Mr. [Seyyed Ali Akbar] Mohtashami's remarks during a closed session of Parliament concerning Mr. Shahroudi; it was similar to what I had heard.

In the afternoon, Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad Baqir] Hakim, [the head of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq], and his brother Abdul-Sahib came to provide an analysis regarding the possibility of a U.S. attack on Iraq. He believes that if [the U.S.] secures the cooperation of Russia and Turkey, an attack will occur and that they will utilize Shia and Kurdish forces, similar to Afghanistan. He mentioned that if Iran plays a role similar to its involvement in Afghanistan, it would benefit Iran and Iraqi Shia. They are preparing forces for the Badr Brigade, which has 13,000 members. His nephew, Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Said Hakim, who is a religious authority in Iraq and spent years in Saddam's prison, contracted bone tuberculosis in a facility that housed tuberculosis patients, which led to his release for treatment in London. After his brother left, he mentioned that funds Kuwait provided to the Supreme Council on several occasions still exist and proposed that they be invested for the expenses of the Iraqi revolution. He believes that Iraq will fall as easily as Afghanistan did.

In the evening, Mr. [Hossein] Ghasemi, the CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, came. He stated that the IRGC insists on burying five unknown martyrs in Kish. I said it was a good idea and that they should accept it. He expressed dissatisfaction that General [Seyyed Mohammad] Baqirzadeh, the commander of the Martyr Body Inspection, stated in an interview that the officials in Kish were not in agreement; I told him to rectify this.

Yesterday in America, a small plane collided with a forty-story building in Florida. There were no physical injuries, and two other small planes also crashed. There is a possibility that this was a terrorist act, although they say they are investigating. Israeli propaganda against Iran and [Yasser] Arafat continues. The plan to convene an Arab summit in Lebanon has become problematic due to Shiite opposition to [Muammar] Gaddafi, [the leader of Libya]. The U.S. has also bombed certain areas in eastern Afghanistan today.