Date: March 8, 2002 - Continuing the Review and Approval of General Urban Planning Policies at the Expediency Discernment Council

The Expediency Discernment Council approved the general principles and the first clause of the urban planning policies. During the usual meeting following the council, discussions were held regarding issues related to the United States and internal disputes. Mr. [Ahmad] Jannati mentioned that the Guardian Council has rejected the foreign exchange clause for financing the government's 2002 budget, which will likely be referred to the council.

In the afternoon, at the request of the Supreme National Security Council, a meeting was convened with high-ranking officials from the government, the presidency, heads of parliamentary committees, leaders of the judiciary, military leaders, the board of the Assembly of Experts, and several members of the Expediency Discernment Council at the office of the Supreme Leader. Dr. [Hassan] Rouhani, [Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council], discussed the belligerent policies of the United States and the potential threats to Iran, rejecting the policies of capitulation or war. He presented the proposed deterrent policy that has also been approved by the Supreme Leader. Both Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, the President, and the Supreme Leader emphasized the importance of this topic.

The Supreme Leader added that unity should be based on the hostile remarks made by [George] Bush, the President of the United States, who seeks to convey that there is a duality in the management of the country, and that the United States supports one faction. Everyone must reject America's statements. He also requested that I speak; however, since there was no significant decision to be made, aside from the issue of unity and solidarity that I have always emphasized, I felt it unnecessary.

The massacre of Palestinians by Israel continued today. Yesterday, 50 Palestinians were martyred, leading to widespread public protests in many countries. In eastern Afghanistan, U.S. bombings also persisted. Today, in the city of Pana in Ghazni Province, near the Pakistan border, 23 civilians were killed in a bombing. An F-14 American aircraft was also shot down in the Indian Ocean while returning from Afghanistan. Indian Muslims report that the number of Muslims killed in the recent turmoil exceeds one thousand.

Iffat, who had gone to Yazd with Imam Khomeini's family for the anniversary of Haj Ahmad Agha, returned in the evening and criticized the speeches made by the participants of the meeting.