Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – February 2, 1997

In the morning, Fati and Mr. Ashuri and Kharazi came and asked for help to build a cancer research center. They say it costs eight billion tomans; Two billion should be given by the government and the rest should be collected from the people. Mr. [Gholam Ali] Kiani, [CEO of the Defense Industries Organization], came from the Ministry of Defense. He gave a report on some defense industries and asked for more credit. He said, by the order of the leadership, the work of some special industries has been stopped; He asked us to help.

[Mr. Gholamreza Aghazadeh], the oil minister, came and gave a report on the results of the new tenders and said that France and England have taken the lead for some projects, including South Pars, and he suggested that we tie their hands to prevent our possible sanctions in the Security Council. We decided to have a meeting for this purpose. With regard to the possibility of handing over to domestic companies, he relied on the assumption of the help of the central bank to attract foreign credits and to ward off the pressures of some labor factions. Mr. [Mohammed] Gharehi, [Minister of Post, Telegraph and Telephone] came. He had made a proposal about buying a satellite; We would like to provide three satellites for three orbital points. He again raised the issue of his candidacy for the [presidential] election; It seems that he is not reluctant.

[Mr. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani], Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar came. In a private meeting, he brought the message of the Saudi governors and asked for help to find the fugitive Saudi suspects in the Al-Khobar explosion. They think that they have fled to Iran. I repeated the previous answers and said, if the Saudis have a clue, they should give it to us so that we can follow it up. He requested that the experts of the two countries have a joint meeting; I accepted

In the evening, I participated in the Book of the Year awards ceremony at Vahdat Hall. After the report of Mr. [Mustafa] Mirslim, [Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance] and awarding of awards, I spoke about the importance of science, research and books. I visited the book fair. Iftar, the deputy ministers were my guests at the club of the presidential institution; I had no plans to speak. I came home early.