Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - October 4, 2001 - Consultative Meeting with Sheikh Mohammad Reza Abbasi on Ongoing Affairs of the Assembly of Experts

• Consultative meeting with Sheikh Mohammad Reza Abbasi regarding the ongoing affairs of the Assembly of Experts.
• After introducing and referring Mostafa Vaez Tabasi to Sheikh Abbas Ali Alizadeh, the Chief Justice of Tehran Province, in yesterday’s diary entry, the meeting today included Mostafa Vaez Tabasi and a report on the outcome of this meeting. Interestingly, the Chief Justice of Tehran and Mostafa Vaez Tabasi went to Hashemi’s house in the evening and reported on the case of Nasser Vaez Tabasi.
• Consultative meeting with Mahmoud Vaezi and Gholamreza Forouzan regarding political and international situations.
• Inauguration of the first seminar on "Verses of Sacrifice" and Hashemi’s public support for Ayatollah Khamenei’s statements against the policies of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami’s government.

Full Diary Entry:

Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Abbasi-Fard, [a jurist member of the Guardian Council and representative of the Assembly of Experts], came. He provided explanations regarding the tasks related to the Assembly of Experts and the issues of the Guardian Council, as well as the acceptance of the presidency's consultation suggested by Mr. [Mohammad] Khatami. Mr. Mostafa Vaez Tabasi came and reported the results of his discussions with Mr. [Abbas Ali] Alizadeh, [the Chief Justice of Tehran Province], and when he asked, they were invited to meet. In the evening, Mr. Alizadeh and Mostafa Tabasi came to the house and reported on the case of Nasser Tabasi.

Mr. [Mahmoud] Vaezi, [Deputy of the Strategic Research Center], and [Gholamreza] Forouzan, [a member of the Tehran City Council], came and said that we should take advantage of this appropriate opportunity to solve the problems of the revolution and strengthen foreign relations. However, they did not have answers to my questions regarding how to respond to possible American requests concerning Lebanon, Palestine, and domestic issues.

In the afternoon, I went to the opening of the first seminar on "Verses of Sacrifice" held for martyr women and the families of martyrs at the International Conference Hall. About 500 educated martyrs from across the country gathered there. Mr. [Alireza] Afshar reported that today there are thousands of educated women from martyrs.

I also delivered a detailed speech about the role and status of women in the Islamic Revolution. I endorsed the leader's statements today regarding America; he criticized America's actions and stated that we do not cooperate in any actions directed by America and oppose the American attack on Afghanistan. The leader's statements have also been seen as opposition to America's revenge policy, and some say that they have impeded Mr. [Mohammad] Khatami, [the President], in cooperating with America.

Russia has promised non-military cooperation with America against the Taliban, and America has also told the Chechens to distance themselves from the [Taliban] government and [Osama] bin Laden, [the leader of Al-Qaeda].