Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - August 20, 2001 - Permission for Investigation and Inspection of Institutions Directly Under the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and Notification from the Leadership Office for the Correction of Previous Additions and Mai

Permission for Investigation and Inspection of Institutions Directly Under the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and Notification from the Leadership Office for the Correction of Previous Additions and Maintaining the Guardian Council's Position

Analysis by Senior Members of the Expediency Discernment Council on the Behavior of the Parliament in the Selection of Legal Members of the Guardian Council and Disrespect Toward Ayatollah Khamenei and the Composition of Mohammad Khatami's Cabinet

Reactions to Mohammad Khatami's Interview as President and Hashemi's Narratives Indicating that Plans for the Second Term Government Were Already Conceived

Meeting with the Foreign Minister of South Korea

Flooding in Jajarm, Bojnurd, and Shahroud, Resulting in Significant Financial and Human Losses

Full Text of the Daily Memo:

In a meeting of the Expediency Discernment Council, permission was granted for the Parliament to investigate and inspect institutions directly under the leadership, with their consent. The Judicial Commission had made additional amendments to this amendment in their previous resolution, which were corrected this morning following a notification from the Leadership Office. Furthermore, the interpretation of the Guardian Council regarding the prohibition of the aforementioned institutions from the Parliament, such as the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts, remained intact.

At noon, Mr. [Abbas Vaez] Tabasi, [Mohammad] Yazdi, [Mohammad Ali] Mohajerani, [Ahmad] Jannati, and [Ali Akbar] Nategh Nouri were my guests. They criticized the blank votes of the majority of the sixth Parliament regarding the selection of legal members of the Guardian Council as a form of disrespect toward the leadership, the Council, and the judiciary. They examined the news regarding the new cabinet members and evaluated the cabinet as weaker and more leftist than before. They also criticized the speech on the inauguration day of the President, stating that instead of outlining future plans, political and electoral slogans were repeated. Discussions were held on future strategies.

In the media of the Second Khordad Front and foreign outlets, there was criticism of Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami’s statements during interviews with reporters, questioning why he said it was unclear whether the closed newspapers and detained journalists were innocent, and also that he claimed the recent guidance of the Expediency Discernment Council resolved the country's problems, indicating that the country would not face a deadlock with the existence of the Council. They remarked, "Are you the spokesperson for the Council?"

In the evening, [Mr. Han Seung-soo], the Foreign Minister of South Korea, came and expressed gratitude that during his presidency, we built both Iran and the relations between Iran and Korea. He invited me to visit Korea, and we discussed the development of relations. I emphasized the importance of completing shipbuilding [in the Persian Gulf] at Bandar Abbas, stating that Korea should fulfill its contractual obligations; he seemed unaware of this or feigned ignorance.

Last night, floods occurred in Golestan Province, Jajarm, Bojnurd, and Shahroud. In Golestan, 52 bodies have been found so far, with many still missing. In Jajarm, one body has been found, and 25 people are missing, resulting in significant financial losses. Although regional managers usually exaggerate the financial losses to receive better aid, the death toll is expected to rise.

The occupation of the Beit Al-Maqdis [the official headquarters of the Palestinian Authority] by Israel has attracted significant criticism, and pressure on Israel is increasing. There have also been many clashes today.