Date: March 6, 2002 - Hashemi's Narratives and Analyses Following Tony Blair's Statements on the Attack on Iraq

Hashemi's Narratives and Analyses Following Tony Blair's Statements on the Attack on Iraq

Trip to Qom and Participation in the Gathering of the Islamic Seminary

Meeting with Seyyed Hassan Khomeini and Hashemi's Narration of His Definitions, Including Neither the Harshness of Ayatollah Khamenei Nor the Slow Actions of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, Along with Political Consultations

Following Previous Controversies for Mohammad Salamat, the Closure of the Magazine "Asr-e Ma," the Organ of the Islamic Revolutionary Mujahedin Organization, and His Sentencing to 17 Months in Prison

Complete Daily Record:

Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of the UK, stated that the time for an attack on Iraq is approaching. The U.S. has warned Americans in Turkey to evacuate their women and children. Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, reported to Iran that the American delegation to Iraqi Kurdistan has conducted final assessments for the quality of the attack on Iraq and has requested that the Kurds and the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution play the role of the United Northern Front in Afghanistan.

In Kabul, five personnel from German, Dutch, and Danish forces were killed when a Russian missile they attempted to defuse exploded, resulting in seven others being seriously injured, which has created a political crisis in Germany. The revelation of the presence of 1,200 German troops in Afghanistan has astonished the German public, as this had been kept secret until now. Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, has explicitly stated that there is a long way to go in the war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Daily attacks on American military bases have frightened them.

In Palestine, the resistance of Palestinian fighters has bewildered them, and Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, has expressed concern about the violence of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, stating that violence will not solve the Palestinian issue; contrary to George Bush's statements, which supported Sharon's actions. Shimon Peres, the Israeli Foreign Minister, has condemned the army's violence and mentioned that the Labor Party may leave the cabinet. Today, Israel attacked all cities in Gaza and the West Bank, killing eight people, including six blind students whose school was bombed. It is surprising that amidst these attacks, public participation in protests and the funerals of martyrs continues, with retaliation being executed through martyrdom operations.

Currently, Western nations are pinning their hopes on the plan proposed by Abdullah, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and the Syrian Foreign Minister visited Iran for this purpose and requested an urgent meeting with me. However, since I must be in Qom before noon today, I was unable to accommodate the request. He was also in a hurry to return to Syria. The Israeli Foreign Minister announced that they fundamentally accept Abdullah's plan, thereby preventing the ball from being placed in Israel's court.

The Russian parliament has reacted sharply against the presence of American forces in Georgia. With the expansion of Western presence in Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, they feel encircled. Recently, Americans have detained and inspected two or three Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, which is provocative.

The White House is determined to impose tariffs of up to 30% on imported steel to the U.S., which has angered European, Russian, and Japanese governments. This is viewed as a violation of international trade regulations, leading to formal objections.

We flew to Qom by helicopter and landed at the Revolutionary Guards' base in Qom, where we were met by military personnel. The governor, mayor, and city council members were there to welcome us. After visiting the shrine and the graves of my parents and sister, I went to Feyziyeh School. A large number of students welcomed me warmly. A ceremony was held in the basement of the Feyziyeh School to send missionaries for Muharram.

Mr. Mohammad Jafari Gilani, the head of the Islamic Propagation Office in Qom, stated that over six thousand missionaries have been requested. Ayatollah Meshkini, the head of the Assembly of Experts, welcomed us and offered ethical advice. I delivered an extensive speech that lasted over an hour, mainly explaining the current situation and the factors behind America's new movements and crises. We immediately set off back to Tehran.

In the afternoon, I arrived at the office in Koshk. I spent time reading newspapers, resting, swimming, and using the sauna. I returned home. In the evening, Hassan Khomeini came to invite me to the anniversary ceremony of Ahmad Khomeini, mentioning that it has spread among the public, families, and students that if you were in charge of the country, you would have prevented the crisis with America, stating that you neither have the harshness of Khamenei nor the slowness of Khatami. He added that the morale of students is good, especially after the people's march on Bahman 22. He had questions about the political and security situation in the region.

In India, following a return to calm, clashes in Gujarat have resumed, with casualties exceeding 650, and further persecution of Muslims. The Indian parliament is closed in protest against this situation. The magazine "Asr-e Ma," the organ of the Islamic Revolutionary Mujahedin Organization, has been closed, and Mr. Mohammad Salamat, the editor of the magazine, has been sentenced to 17 months in prison. In Turkey, Necmettin Erbakan has been sentenced to 27 months in prison.