Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – February 24, 1997

Mr. [Mohammadreza] Tausli and [Mehdi] Karroubi wanted an urgent meeting, but it was not possible today. It must be for the election. [Mr. Akbar Turkan], the Minister of Road [and Transportation], along with the managers of [Homa Airlines] and other departments [of the airline] came. The Minister and Mr. [Syed Hassan] Shafti, [CEO of Homa Company], gave a long report on the performance. Based on their report, I talked about the progress and success in management and construction and self-sufficiency and showed Mr. Shafti's merit [and management].

Mr. Ashikh Hassan Saneyi, [the head of Khordad 15 Foundation] came. gave the performance report of the foundation on June 15; Regarding the construction of schools and health centers in the villages and helping the families of the martyrs, with more than two hundred stores that provide them with subsidized goods. The management after me expressed concern by announcing the risk. We remembered the lifetime of the Imam. Especially since the beginning of the struggle until today, when we were usually together and like-minded; The problems of Bani Sadr's time and the efforts to get the Imam out of the state of isolation before the struggle were also discussed.

Mr. [Hossein] Mahluji, [Minister of Mines and Metals] came. He gave a report on the progress of steel, copper, iron ore, aluminum, alloy steel, lead, zinc, and phosphate projects and obtained permission to consume some of the consumable gifts. Akhvi Mohammad, [executive deputy of the president] came. They talked about the election.

In the evening, in the meeting of the government board, there was a discussion about the date of the election and the method of voting and counting, but it was not finished. The faction of the clergy wants the 2nd of Khordad, which is in the days after Ashura and during Muharram, and the opposite faction wants the 16th of Khordad, which is after the days of the Imam's death. In the previous night's meeting, they said this opinion. Tonight they repeated and told their opinions to Mr. [Ahmed] Janati, [Secretary of the Guardian Council] and [Ali Mohammad] Basharti [Interior Minister]; But since they have not given an order, the Guardian Council acts as it sees fit. We had some resolutions in the meeting.

I was the guest of Ayatollah Khamenei last night. We talked about the [expulsion] of our ambassador in Türkiye; We decided to fight back. We decided not to interfere with the time of the elections. Regarding the invitation of the leaders of the Islamic countries, for the [organization] of the Islamic Conference, it was decided to invite a few more important governments first. We talked about his trip to Khuzestan and my presence in Bushehr and the plans and works and about the drought and the possibility of water shortage in Tehran and ways to prevent it as well as the description of the negotiation with Mr. Rouhani.

Mr. [Ali] Falahian, [Minister of Information], came and reported on his trip to Russia and Armenia. Mr. [Hassan] Rouhani gave a report on the negotiations with the leadership regarding the elections over the phone, which did not make any progress; Expressing the desire for more excitement in the elections, for the participation of the people.