Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - April 18, 2001 - Khatami’s Political and Electoral Consultations with Historical Insights

Meeting with Mostafa Hashemi Taba and a report on the activities of the Physical Education Organization.

Meeting with Salahmand, a former security officer of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, requesting Hashemi’s assistance in securing a new position at Tehran’s Fruit and Vegetable Market Organization.

Political and electoral consultations between Hashemi and Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, containing notable historical points.

Meeting with the Basij Medical Society of Khorasan Province.

Consultation with Hassan Vaezi on accepting a position in the Cultural Commission of the Expediency Council.

The arrest of Heshmatollah Tabarzadi and several of his associates.

Full Text of the Daily Entry:

Mr. [Mostafa] Hashemi Taba, [Head of the Physical Education Organization], came and provided a report on the state of sports. He mentioned that out of the 1,377 sports halls planned in the second development program, about 800 units have been completed, and many others are under construction. They’ve imported equipment for producing artificial grass and are in the process of finalizing a contract with a Dutch company to produce natural turf rolls. He said he is considering running for the presidency, even though he knows he won’t win. His aim is to convey necessary messages and explain the essential programs to the people, advocating for reducing expectations to align with the country’s and the president's capacities. He plans to base his platform on development, similar to the first and second development programs.

Mr. Salahmand, a former security officer of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, came for a New Year's visit and mentioned that he now works as a special inspector in the municipality’s [Fruit and Vegetable] markets and expects support.

Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, the President, came. He was also my lunch guest. He explained some of the challenges he faces due to the extremism of both the left and the right, as well as issues with the judiciary, the armed forces, and remarks made by the Supreme Leader. He mentioned that he has not yet reached a final decision about running [in the upcoming presidential election], despite the intense pressure from the reformists. He worries about the consequences of not running, though he also believes that if he doesn’t, the government might become more coordinated with the Supreme Leader and some of the extremism might subside. He expressed dissatisfaction with the recent actions of the Revolutionary Court in making arrests and concerns about the judiciary’s decision to establish a task force to deal with financial crimes. I sympathized with his worries and advised him to quickly address the issue of tea farmers in the north so that no problems arise with the beginning of green tea leaf harvesting.

Mr. Khatami expressed dissatisfaction with Mr. [Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi] Shahroudi, [the head of the judiciary], and doesn’t find it useful to raise serious issues with him. He mentioned that [Rahim Safavi], the commander of the IRGC, had privately referred to him as a hypocrite and claimed he had plans for regime change. He also relayed that Prince Nayef, the Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia, in a private meeting, urged him to run in the elections for the sake of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the region, presenting it as a message from the Saudi leadership.

Mr. Khatami continued, saying that until a few months ago, he used to discuss serious matters with the Supreme Leader, but since it yielded no results, for several months now, their weekly meetings have felt more like friendly gatherings discussing everyday matters. After his speech at the university on December 6 (16 Azar), where he criticized the leftist extremists, displeasing them, he asked the Supreme Leader to also condemn the right-wing extremists, but the Leader refused. Mr. Khatami said that the Supreme Leader did not welcome his recent proposal for a policy of moderation and also denied any notion of a coup plot by nationalist-religious groups. The Leader even attributed the 1999 University Dormitory incident partly to the right-wing extremists. Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad Ali] Abtahi, [Head of the President’s Office], reported that Grand Ayatollahs [Hossein] Vahid Khorasani and [Seyyed Mousa] Shobeiri Zanjani have encouraged him to run.

In the afternoon, the Basij Medical Society of Khorasan Province came and discussed their plans for forming a nationwide organization. They requested that I attend their national gathering in Mashhad. Most of them are doctors who served on the front lines during the war. Mr. Hassan Vaezi also came to consult about accepting a position on the Cultural Commission of the Expediency Council and about his interviews with TV on national sovereignty.

Israel has withdrawn from the Gaza territories it occupied yesterday, despite initially claiming it would stay, seemingly due to U.S. opposition. Mr. [Heshmatollah] Tabarzadi, [editor of the Payam-e Daneshjoo publication], and several of his associates have been arrested.