Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - September 6, 2001 - Consultation with Ayatollah Khamenei

Consultation with Ayatollah Khamenei Regarding the Appointment of New Directors of the Islamic Propagation Organization, the Islamic Republic News Agency, and the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization, and Other Political Affairs of the Country

• Meeting with Mohsen Rezaei, expressing concern over the lack of public support from Ayatollah Khamenei and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani for Ali Shamkhani in the presidential elections.
• Consultative meeting with Morteza Sarmaidi, Iran's ambassador to London.
• Meeting with Alireza Pirouzmand and Seyyed Mohammad Mahdi Mirbagheri to continue jurisprudential-scientific consultations.
• Meeting with Shahryar Parhizgar, discussing his personal problems seeking Hashemi’s help.

Full Text of the Daily Memo:

Mr. [Alireza] Pirouzmand and [Mohammad Mahdi] Mirbagheri came; to continue the discussion from previous sessions regarding how to reconcile Islam and modernity, which I elaborated on. Mr. [Shahryar] Parhizgar, a hafiz (memorizer) of the entire Quran, came. He said he had won first place in the Quran memorization competition in Saudi Arabia in 1992 and received a prize of 55,000 Saudi rials, which he had entrusted to someone to work with. The person has defaulted on repayment. He owns a house in Karaj that is occupied by tenants. Due to the problems arising from this, he has fallen into debt and anxiety. He sought help for a loan.

In the evening, Mr. [Morteza] Sarmaidi, the Iranian ambassador to London, came. He reported on the situation in Britain, the US-dependent policies, their recent focus on Europe, and Britain's interest in the energy sector in Iran.

Mr. Mohsen Rezaei, [Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council], came. He expressed concern for the fate of the revolution in the event of continued conditions imposed by the second Khordad movement and lamented the lack of public support from the leadership and myself for Mr. [Ali] Shamkhani in the [presidential] election. I also pointed out some inaccuracies in his statements.

At night, I was a guest of the leader. He discussed issues related to the public implementation of punishments and said that they had not expressed a supportive or opposing view; the decision rests with the judiciary and the police force. We talked about the management of the Islamic Propagation Organization, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), and the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization, with fundamental discussions regarding the concerns that had arisen for the future of the revolution. Solutions were discussed.

There is a widespread condemnation of Israel due to the assassination of Mr. Abu Ali Mustafa, the Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Israel has also occupied Beit Jala, [in the Bethlehem district].

Last night, unexpectedly, the water at home was cut off, and we faced difficulties.