Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - November 6, 1999 - Recommendation and Reminder from Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to Prosecutor-General Mohseni Ejei for Consideration of Abdullah Nouri's Circumstances During the Hearing of the Second Branch of the Special Clergy Cou

The hearing, presided over by Sheikh Mohammad Salimi, saw Hashemi inviting Abdullah Nouri to his home to offer advice on avoiding extreme actions during the court session. However, Sheikh Abdullah Nouri did not heed Rafsanjani's counsel.

Further Developments on Mohammad Khatami's Trip to France and the Surrounding Analysis

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Rafsanjani worked in his Koushk office. He advised Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, head of the Special Clergy Court and Judiciary Complex for Government Employees, to avoid extremism in dealing with Abdullah Nouri, the editor of Khordad newspaper, and Gholamreza Forouzesh.

He also invited Abdullah Nouri to his home to warn him against provoking the court with his statements during the upcoming session.

Right-wing newspapers today criticized the French government's behavior towards President Khatami. They discussed the cancellation of his UNESCO speech, the lack of Iranian flags on the streets, the unsatisfactory reception at the airport, French interference in Iran’s internal affairs, and the brief meeting with Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. However, they have yet to comment on the egg and paint-throwing incidents against the president's entourage, as well as the disrespect shown by the opposition and Jewish groups.

The French News Agency reported that there might be a decision to allow Khatami’s UNESCO speech after all. Most Iranian and international media outlets have focused on the positive aspects of Khatami’s trip and paid little attention to the shortcomings. Some have compared this visit with the trip of Chinese President Jiang Zemin to France and other European countries, noting that while human rights activists also protested against Jiang’s visit, the opposition was not as intense as it was for Khatami. Hubert Védrine, France’s foreign minister, was summoned to the French Parliament and questioned for two hours regarding foreign policy, Khatami's invitation, and the lack of attention to human rights. However, the majority of the representatives supported the visit.

The French police reported that the number of demonstrators from the Mujahedin (MEK) reached 2,000, despite restrictions on Iranian travel to France, although the MEK themselves claimed 10,000. It was seen as an attempt at exaggeration.