Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - April 15, 2001 - Meeting with Mehdi Safiri, Iran's Ambassador to Moscow, and Report on Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Trip to Russia

Meeting with Mehdi Safiri, Iran's Ambassador to Moscow, and Report on Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Trip to Russia
Consultative Meeting with Sheikh Mohammad Reza Nouri Shahroudi and Ali Asghar Khaji before the Meeting with Prince Nayef, the Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia
Consultative Meeting with Seyyed Abdul Vahid Mousavi Lari, the Minister of Interior
Meeting with Prince Nayef, the Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia
Meeting with Members of the Central Council of the Islamic Students Association

Full Diary Text:

Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Nouri Shahroudi, [former Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia], and [Ali Asghar] Khaji, our ambassador in Saudi Arabia, came to discuss matters concerning Saudi Arabia and Mr. [Prince] Nayef [bin Abdulaziz], the Minister of Interior. Mr. [Abdul Vahid] Mousavi Lari, [the Minister of Interior], also came to discuss the same issue and internal matters; he spoke about the expectations for reducing tensions and conflicts, mentioning that Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, [the President], had not yet announced his decision regarding the presidential elections.

Prince Nayef and his entourage arrived. We negotiated for more than an hour and a half. He expressed regret over the position they took during the Iran-Iraq War, although King Fahd [bin Abdulaziz] had made significant efforts at that time to prevent Iraq's attack on Iran but could not succeed. He thanked me for my efforts to bring the two countries closer and invited me to make another trip to Saudi Arabia to deepen relations. We agreed to have more negotiations and cooperation regarding Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Palestinian issue.

In the evening, members of the Central Council of the Islamic Students Association came to present their report and expressed surprise at the positions and potential candidates for the elections, seeking guidance and assistance. I provided them with some reminders; they neither accept Mr. Khatami nor the individuals who are probable candidates from the opposing side.

Mr. [Mehdi] Safiri, our ambassador in Russia, came and reported on Mr. Khatami's trip to Russia, stating that they did not reach any specific decisions regarding significant cooperation, although there were friendly and positive statements.

Last night, Israeli planes attacked Syrian army positions in Lebanon, killing several in retaliation for Hezbollah's attack on Israeli soldiers in Shebaa Farms, escalating tensions in the region. In Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, there have been riots by African Americans due to the killing of another African American, with martial law in place and hundreds arrested, as the police try to restore order.