Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - January 30, 2002 - Continuation of Coordination Among Deputies of the Strategic Research Center with the Head of the Expediency Council

• Continuation of coordination among the deputies of the Strategic Research Center with the head of the Expediency Council. This time, a meeting of the deputies was held to consult on establishing a research institute and formulating a plan to address the issue of the lunar crescent, which remains unresolved in the Islamic Republic to this day.
• Meeting with Tahmasb Mazaheri and Masoud Karbasian to discuss economic matters and customs issues, requesting Hashemi's intervention through Ayatollah Khamenei to resolve these challenges.

Full Text of the Daily Notes:

I had a meeting with the deputies of the Strategic Research Center. They reported on the progress of construction, logistics, and research activities, and decisions were made regarding the establishment of a research institute and a plan to address the lunar crescent issue. Discussions also took place regarding potential U.S. policies in the region.

In the afternoon, Mr. Tahmasb Mazaheri, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, and Mr. Masoud Karbasian, the head of customs, came to meet with me. They provided explanations about the tax bill and the foreign investment plan, which had been rejected by the Guardian Council. The tax bill would reduce some of the revenues from private sector and employee taxes by about 300 billion tomans annually, offset by revenues from state companies and institutions that have not paid taxes until now. Their exemptions would be removed, which would increase tax revenues, but it is essentially transferring funds from one pocket to another. Regarding the foreign investment plan, considering the Guardian Council's objections, it would not differ from the current law. They admitted that a mistake had been made, but withdrawing it would also have negative repercussions. They requested the Expediency Council's help for final approval.

They discussed their issues with combating economic corruption, noting that the Ministry of Intelligence and the General Inspection Organization do not provide cases to the Economic Corruption Combat Headquarters, effectively sidelining it, which has led to negative consequences in the country's economy and unclear results. They asked for my negotiation with the leadership to adjust the situation.

The Nyiragongo volcano in Congo has displaced hundreds of thousands, with molten materials flowing through the streets of Goma. The bankruptcy of the major company Enron in the U.S. has raised significant issues, including scandals for George Bush, the U.S. President, and his associates, who received considerable contributions from the company for their elections. The trial of Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel, in Belgium for the massacre of residents of the Sabra and Shatila camps has reached a more serious stage. General Pervez Musharraf, the President of Pakistan, stated that Osama bin Laden is likely dead, given that he was suspected to be in Pakistan, raising suspicions about his possible killing.