Memories of Akbar Hashemi - February 19, 2002 - Important One-on-One Meeting Between Hashemi and Ayatollah Khamenei to Discuss Reports from Brigadier General Qasem Soleimani

Meeting with the Ambassador of Cuba in Tehran and Political Consultations with Hashemi

Report from Seyyed Ali Naqi Mousavi, Financial Director of the Expediency Discernment Council

Meeting with Masoud Karbasian, the Head of Iranian Customs, Accompanied by Senior Managers of the Organization

One-on-One Meeting Between Hashemi and Ayatollah Khamenei to Discuss Reports from Brigadier General Qasem Soleimani, Resolutions of the National Security Council Regarding Afghanistan, Criticism of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's Footnotes to These Resolutions, and Consultation on Resolving Disputes Over the Age of Marriage and Hardship in Divorce

Hashemi's Account of Targeted Questions from the Office for the Consolidation of Unity Directed at Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi

Full Text of the Daily Journal:

Mr. [Jose Ramon Rodriguez Varona], the Ambassador of Cuba, visited. He spoke about the U.S. harassment against his country, including biological interference concerning sugar and potato agriculture, and recently the spread of the dangerous "internment" fly that causes human fatalities. He provided explanations regarding the Guantanamo base, where Al-Qaeda prisoners are held, stating that a hundred years ago, after the defeat of Spain, the U.S. governed Cuba for several years and at that time leased the area, which is partly land and partly water, for fifty years, renewing the lease during the Batista government, and still maintains control over it.

Mr. [Seyyed Ali Naqi] Mousavi, the accounting and financial manager of the [Expediency Discernment Council], came in and reported on the financial situation.

In the afternoon, Mr. [Masoud] Karbasian, the head of customs, along with senior managers, reported on the status of customs and financial problems from 42 border markets and the rampant smuggling issue. He mentioned that in an attempt to inflate export statistics, the government includes revenues from tourism and foreign workers, which are not related to service exports, in the export figures and has asked customs not to provide independent reports.

In the evening, I was a guest of the leadership. I discussed the report from Mr. [Qasem] Soleimani, [the commander of the IRGC Quds Force], regarding Hezbollah's programs and the challenges faced by the Quds Force in Afghanistan due to disagreements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Council. He expressed dissatisfaction with the government's performance and the National Security Council regarding Afghanistan, stating that their recommendations are not implemented. He noted that the latest resolution of the National Security Council concerning Afghanistan is good, but Mr. Khatami, [the president], rendered it ineffective with a detailed and ambiguous footnote, similar to several other footnotes. We also discussed the future of the Expediency Discernment Council and issues regarding the age of marriage and hardship in divorce.

In South Korea, a large and violent protest against [George] Bush, [the President of the United States], and U.S. warmongering took place in his presence. To ensure Bush's safety, military aircraft flights and the concentration of spy satellites have turned the area into a police state. In Afghanistan, military skirmishes are increasing. In Palestine, in retaliation for the killing of four Israelis by militants, Israel conducted extensive bombings against Palestinians, and the tone of Israeli leaders toward Iran has softened.

Today and last night, there has been snow and rain in many parts of Iran and Tehran. Mr. Hashemi Shahrudi, [the head of the judiciary], visited Tehran University for a question-and-answer session at the invitation of the student Basij, and the [Office for the Consolidation of Unity] issued a statement raising questions as a form of protest.