Date: March 11, 2002 - Akbar Hashemi's Account of the Proceedings of the Assembly of Experts, Particularly Regarding Seyyed Ali Mohammad Dashtgheib's Speech and Hassan Rouhani's Report on U.S. Policies and Potential War Risks in the Region

Hashemi's account includes discussions about the speech given by Assembly of Experts representatives, particularly Seyyed Ali Mohammad Dashtgheib, and a report by Hassan Rouhani on U.S. policies and the potential dangers of war in the region.

Full Text of the Diary:

At 8:30 AM, the Assembly of Experts session began. Mr. Ali Meshkini, the Chairman of the Assembly, arrived late. I kept the session engaged until his arrival. My explanations and Mr. Meshkini's speech, followed by preliminary speeches, were conducted. Mr. Seyyed Ali Mohammad Dashtgheib's comments drew collective objections from representatives supportive of the leadership; Messrs. Seyyed Ahmad Khatami and Mohammad Ali Mohammadi Kermani raised their objections. The report of the commissions was also discussed. Mr. Hassan Rouhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and representative of Tehran, delivered a comprehensive talk on U.S. warmongering policies and the potential dangers involved.

I went to the office and returned at 3:30 PM, continuing the session until evening, which included discussions on the prior speeches and reviewing plans to activate the Assembly of Experts. In the evening, the members of the Assembly were my guests in my office. As usual, several of them presented their objections and questions, including Messrs. Abdul Nabi Namazi, Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, Abbas Kaabi, and Ali Fallahian. Mr. Meshkini provided ethical reminders. I also gave an extensive talk on the necessity of strengthening the Qom Seminary, establishing a comprehensive university, enhancing governmental jurisprudence, and addressing economic and cultural issues. I presented several volumes of my books to all of them.

Mr. Amir Tehrani from the Ministry of Intelligence informed me that supporters of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar claimed he had gone to Afghanistan, and his party announced support for the interim government. He mentioned that several individuals accused of being al-Qaeda members had been handed over to France, which he condemned as a disgraceful and incorrect act.

Israel occupied Ramallah, resulting in casualties. In a suicide operation in northern Israel, five Israelis were killed and seven injured. An American vehicle in Afghanistan struck a landmine, causing fatalities and injuries.