Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 27, 2003

I went to the Salman Mosque adjacent to the former Prime Minister's office; for the ceremony for the government martyrs organized by the government. Mr. Khatami, the President, said that the Leader has stated that political and economic relations with England should be cut off due to the arrest of Hadi Soleimanpour, but his own opinion is that it is better to wait a few days. They are trying for his release; perhaps they will free him. He noted that the remarks of Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director General of the IAEA, regarding Iran's nuclear issues have been milder than before.

He said that today, Mr. Mohsen Armin, a representative of Tehran and spokesperson for the Participation Party, gave a harsh speech in the Majlis against the judiciary, and yesterday, Mrs. Jamileh Kadivar also gave a harsh interview regarding the conviction of the two Intelligence Ministry agents.

I returned to the office. Mr. Abbas Ali Rouhani, the former temporary Friday prayer leader of Isfahan, came. He recounted the story of his dispute with Mr. Jalal al-Din Taheri Isfahani over a letter he had written to the Leader some time ago, and said that they have cut off relations since then, but now they have problems with both the left and the right. They expect the Leader to be informed.

Mrs. Azam Nasseri, the representative of Islamabad-e Gharb, came. She said that today, the people and officials truly appreciate the value of your important past work and are envious. The officials of the Higher Education Institute for Labor came. They sought assistance for resolving the problems of students in Rafsanjan and their dormitory.

Mr. Heydar Ali Jalali Khomeini, the Friday prayer leader of Khomein and the prayer leader of eastern Tehran, came. He suggested that the government should assist mosques. He asked me to participate in a program in eastern Tehran.

In the evening, Mr. Eshaq Jahangiri, Minister of Industries and Mines, Mr. Masoud Nili, deputy of the Plan and Budget Organization and responsible for drafting the country's industrial development strategy document, and Mr. Mohammad Eslami came. They gave explanations about a book they have recently prepared on industrial strategy. They have been criticized for aiming to tie the country's economy to foreign markets and dissolving it into global policy. They sought assistance for defending against this criticism, helping to reform the country's culture to create a foundation for industrialization, and removing obstacles.

In America, once again, families of soldiers deployed in Iraq demonstrated in front of the White House. It has been announced that for the next year, due to war and wrong policies, they will have a budget deficit of 480 billion dollars.

At night, I came home. The crown of my tooth had come off. Dr. Hossein Farahani came to put it back in place. Fati also came from the hospital. She said that Syrian officials gave them a warm welcome, and Mr. Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, immediately gave them an appointment.