Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - July 7, 2001 - Meeting with Amir Tehrani, Deputy for Parliamentary Affairs, and Moayed, Senior Managers of the Ministry of Intelligence, Reporting on the Arrest of a Team of Mojahedin-e Khalq

Meeting with the former Minister of Oil, Gas, and Industries of Russia.

Meeting with Amir Tehrani, Deputy for Parliamentary Affairs, and Moayed, senior managers of the Ministry of Intelligence, reporting on the arrest of a team of Mojahedin-e Khalq, and also announcing the obtaining of consent from the families of Parvaneh and Dariush Farrokh, with a reminder that a faction within the Ministry of Intelligence is obstructing efforts.

Report by Hassan Rouhani on his trip to the Caucasus and Ayatollah Khamenei’s opposition to the Supreme National Security Council’s decision regarding the lifting of Ayatollah Montazeri’s house arrest, and the announcement of the escape of one of the managers of the Ministry of Intelligence abroad.

Full Text of the Daily Entry:

Professor Hajiyev, the former Minister of Oil, Gas, and Industries of Russia and a renowned scientist, came. He answered my questions about the status of oil and gas in Russia, stating that Russia currently produces 300 million tons of crude oil annually, of which 200 million tons are for domestic consumption. He mentioned that 80 percent of Russia’s oil industry—from extraction to consumption—is privatized. Regarding gas, he could not provide precise statistics but said that Russia’s proven gas reserves are sufficient for 15 years at current consumption levels. I noted that Iran’s discovered gas reserves are sufficient for hundreds of years and that it is unlikely Russia would manage consumption in such a way that it would be depleted in 15 years; he agreed to send accurate information.

He is from Chechnya and mentioned that the largest oil and gas research center, located in Kosovo, has been damaged in the war, and its staff has reduced from four thousand to 150. He proposed establishing a high-level research center for the Islamic world, with Iran’s assistance, and he and a group of Russian scientists are ready to cooperate. He also suggested creating a financial and economic center for the presence of Islamic countries in important international locations.

Mr. [Amir] Tehrani, [Deputy for Parliamentary Affairs], and Moayed from the Ministry of Intelligence came and presented a film about the pursuit and arrest of a team of Mojahedin who had launched mortars at four locations in Tehran. Mr. Tehrani stated that they obtained consent from the family of [Dariush] Farrokh, [Secretary-General of the Iranian Nation Party] regarding the executed individuals in the [serial killings] case, but a faction within the Ministry of Intelligence is obstructing the process.

In the afternoon, Dr. [Hassan] Rouhani, [Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council], came to consult regarding his trip to the Caucasus. He mentioned that the Supreme National Security Council had passed a resolution regarding the conditions for lifting Ayatollah Montazeri’s house arrest, which was not accepted by the Supreme Leader. We discussed the current situation in the country and ways to resolve the issues. He mentioned that the Sheikh of Sharjah has sent a message indicating that he is willing to sign an agreement with Iran regarding the island of Abu Musa, with certain concessions for the residents of Sharjah, which is currently under review; this is considering that it had previously been announced as being under Abu Dhabi’s jurisdiction. He also mentioned that one of the managers of the Ministry of Intelligence has escaped abroad.