Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 14, 1999

I went to my office and attended to my work. I then went to Shahid Motahari Mosque for a program bringing together preachers and mourning associations in preparation for Muharram. Mr. [Alireza] Mohammadkhani and Mr. [Mahmoud] Mohammadi Araqi, [head of the Islamic Propaganda Organization], gave reports. In my speech, I explained the responsibilities of the mourning associations and preachers during Muharram and their role in conveying the message of Ashura. The audience was highly emotional, as though they were expressing their support in reaction to what they considered inappropriate developments surrounding the recent events and the Zan newspaper. They said that about 19,000 mourning associations had been registered across the country.

I returned to my office. Mr. [Mohammad Mohammadi] Reyshahri, [the Leader’s Representative and head of the Iranian Hajj delegation], came and gave a report on the Hajj. He was satisfied with the Saudis’ cooperation and said that, despite the cost-cutting measures, many of the pilgrims had been dissatisfied. The quality of hospitality and the foreign-currency allowance had been reduced, and in particular, the dissolution of the disabled veterans’ caravan and their distribution among other caravans had created extraordinary difficulties for both the veterans and the caravans, while also increasing costs. He said that the Values Association had also dissolved its publication, and recalled that before the association was established, when he had consulted me, I had said that given the system of Velayat in Iran, no serious political party would take root, and that subsequent events had proved the correctness of that assessment. He expressed concern about the political situation and asked me to think of a way out.

In the afternoon, members of the Housing Foundation’s Board of Trustees came, accompanied by a number of Friday Prayer leaders. Engineer [Hossein-Ali] Rouhani, [head of the Housing Foundation], gave a report. I spoke about how the conditions were now in place to address the housing problem, given that all construction materials were being produced domestically, there was a real demand, and the country had the technical personnel and machinery needed. With the possibility of providing bank loans, I said, it should be possible to resolve both the housing and employment problems.

Messrs. Rahim Safavi, [Mohammad Bagher] Zolqadr, and [Abdolali Ali] Asgari from the Revolutionary Guards came. They presented a plan to establish a natural-gas-to-liquids conversion facility using foreign financing and sought my help in securing the support of the Ministry of Oil and the Central Bank. I told them to consult Mehdi, who had extensive information on the subject. They then expressed concern about the country’s political and cultural situation and said that we had all reached the conclusion that I was the only person who could save the country from its present circumstances. They asked me to take charge of the political scene and lead the forces loyal to the Revolution.

I said that, given the views and approach of the radical right-wing faction and some of the Hezbollah supporters, I could not work with them. They said that many people had now come to the conclusion that my approach was the right one: we had to attend both to people’s worldly affairs and to their spiritual well-being, and there was no alternative but to accept my leadership. There was no one else capable of bringing them together and organizing them. Moreover, because I had an understanding with the Leader, they said, it might be possible, through Him, to persuade them to submit. I said that their irrationality had become evident in the Zan newspaper affair, and that Mr. Zolqadr himself was one of the leaders of these extremist groups. They did not stop pressing their case, so I asked them to come up with a practical solution.

In the world news, attention was focused on India and Pakistan testing medium-range missiles with ranges of 2,400 and 2,300 kilometers, respectively, as well as on Iran’s test of a new anti-aircraft missile.