Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - April 23, 2001 - Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei and Discussions on the Arrests of National-Religious Activists, Anti-Poverty Initiatives, and Other Political Matters

Participation in the Conference Supporting the Al-Aqsa Intifada and Hashemi's Account of Ayatollah Khamenei's Detailed Speech

Meeting with Rasool Zargarpour, the then-Deputy Minister of Water, and Consultation on Development Plans for the Ministry

Meeting with Mokhtar Vaziri, the representative from Kahnouj

Meeting with Ehsan Mohammad Hasani and a Report on the Activities of the Ashura Institute

Meeting with Abdollah Jassbi and Consultation Regarding Participation in the Presidential Elections, Reporting His Election as President of the Union of Islamic Universities, and Notification of the Murder of an Individual by Mohsen Fallahian, the Son of Sheikh Ali Fallahian

Report from Seyyed Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, Attorney at Law, on the Status of His Case in the Judiciary

Meeting with Sheikh Abdul Amir Qablan

Meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei and Discussions on the Arrests of National-Religious Activists, Anti-Poverty Initiatives, and Other Political Matters

Hashemi's Account of an RPG Attack on a Police Station in Jamaran

Complete Daily Record:

I left home for the conference supporting the Al-Aqsa Intifada at the Islamic Summit Conference Hall; Iftikhar accompanied me. The conference opened with a speech by Ayatollah Khamenei, who read a detailed address from prepared notes.

I then went to my office. Mr. Rasool Zargarpour, the Deputy Minister of Water, came to visit. He mentioned that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Estour Dam would take place this week. The plan was studied during the Reconstruction period but is starting late. I emphasized the need to consider the social issues of 17,000 people and villagers whose lands are being submerged. He also noted that negotiations with Kuwait for selling water from the Karkheh River had concluded; they would build the pipeline at their own expense, purchasing each cubic meter of water at a rate of 25 cents, totaling ten cubic meters per second. Mr. Ali Younesi, the Minister of Intelligence, opposed this in the political committee but the motion passed; however, in the committee, Mohammad Akhavi, the Executive Deputy of the President, opposed it, causing a halt. He asked me to recommend that they do not oppose it. I replied that they should activate the water supply plan for Abadan first; otherwise, negative publicity would ensue. He stated that the project for transferring water from Sirvan to Zahab and Karkheh is under study in nine sections.

Mr. Mokhtar Vaziri, the representative from Kahnouj, came in. He discussed the unprecedented drought affecting Kahnouj and the numerous challenges faced by farmers and livestock breeders; there had been no rain this year, and poor government management has exacerbated the situation. He noted that there was also drought during the Reconstruction government, but government assistance mitigated the damages, and he mentioned the decline in output from the Faryab mine, leading to reduced exports and job losses.

Mr. Ehsan Mohammad Hasani, the head of the Ashura Cultural Institute, came by. He provided a report on artistic and cultural activities and taking groups to the front lines of the Sacred Defense, seeking financial assistance. In the afternoon, Dr. Abdollah Jassbi, the President of Azad University, arrived. He reported on his election as the head of the Union of Islamic Universities and expressed dissatisfaction from the heads of state universities, stating he intends to run for the presidency. He complained about the right-wing faction due to a lack of cooperation and informed me that Mohsen Fallahian, the son of former Minister of Intelligence Ali Fallahian, had gotten into a scuffle with a police officer last night, resulting in the officer's death; I saw this news on the telegraph that night.

Mr. Seyyed Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, an attorney and member of the Tehran City Council, came to discuss his case. He reported that due to the Supreme Court's opposition to the opinion of the appellate judge, he had been sentenced to prison, but the judge had given a favorable opinion again, indicating he might be saved; he sought assistance. Sheikh Abdul Amir Qablan, the Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Shia Council in Lebanon, visited. We discussed the council and Lebanon and the expectation for more assistance from Iran.

That evening, I was a guest of the leadership. We discussed the Palestinian conference, the presidential elections, and the recent arrests. They mentioned that the anti-poverty plan had been brought forth and read, but it was not well received and suggested revisions. Reports indicated that the Mojahedin had attacked a police station in Jamaran with an RPG the previous night.