Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's Memoirs - December 29, 1999 Seyyed Ataollah Mohajerani sought advice regarding how to address the problems facing the press and the intense sensitivities of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.

Mr. [Ataollah] Mohajerani, [Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance], came to discuss solutions to the ongoing issues with the press. He presented a plan for managing both supportive and oppositional newspapers during the election period, noting that if the Ministry of Intelligence cooperates, they could address the destructive and extremist elements within the press. He also mentioned that Mr. [Mehdi] Karroubi, [Secretary-General of the Association of Combatant Clerics], had shown little interest in confronting those who attack the press. Mohajerani recounted an incident from Karroubi's speech at the university yesterday, where a group protested against him.

Dr. [Abdollah] Jasbi, [President of the Islamic Azad University], visited to discuss the results of public opinion polls and how the Islamic Azad University could assist the Guardian Council in overseeing the elections. He also brought the statement of the newly established "Chekad-e Azadan" (The Front of Free Thinkers), though it ultimately did not achieve significant results.

My brother Mohammad, [Executive Vice President], came to report on last night's meeting with the editors of the newspapers Jomhouri-e Eslami, Ettelaat, Iran, Azad, Entekhab, and others. They had decided to cooperate during the election campaign, and Mohammad expressed his opposition to the idea of an alliance between the Executives of Construction Party and left-wing groups, wanting to clarify their level of public support.

Dr. [Ahmad Ali] Nourbala, the new head of the Red Crescent Society, visited. As with many new managers, he highlighted the weaknesses and management issues of his predecessor, [the late] [Saifollah] Vahid Dastjerdi, and shared examples of his reform efforts. He also mentioned that he had resigned from the Participation Party due to the need for the Red Crescent Society to remain neutral on the international stage.

In the afternoon, [Alireza Nouri], the brother of Mr. Abdollah Nouri, came to visit. He said that their parents were ill and upset, and even Mr. Abdollah Nouri himself was distressed about his situation. He brought a message from Abdollah asking for help in getting his court ruling revised in his favor and shared examples of his moderation and fondness for me.

Despite the preventive measures taken worldwide to address potential disruptions in computer systems with the start of the year 2000, many important activities have been canceled on January 1, 2000, as a precautionary measure. In Iran, the government declared it a public holiday, which has caused negative reactions among the public, who view it as a sign of poor planning. Additionally, banks have faced difficulties in recent days due to the rush of depositors withdrawing their money out of fear that their accounts might be disrupted by the Y2K problem.