Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 11, 1999

Mr. Sardar [Qassem] Soleimani, [commander of the Quds Force] came. He gave a report on the situation in Afghanistan. He believes that the situation of Ahmad Shah Massoud, [Afghanistan's Mojahedin Defense Minister], is strong and the Taliban have become weaker. He talked about Iran's aid and future plans and discussed the beginning of negotiations with the Kosovo fighters, through Albania, and regarding Iraq issues.

Mr. [Ali] Abdullahian, [Deputy of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce] came. He expressed concern about the state of the country and said that everyone is waiting for you to take action and they have become hopeful after your speech on TV. I explained that my main policy is to give opportunities and fields to young, energetic and innovative forces, and also my opinion is different from the dry and narrow opinions that are against paying attention to the life and material needs of the society and the people, and I think that the majority of people do not pay attention to the left and the right and want the prosperity and development of the country and solving the problems of life and freedom.

In the evening until five o'clock, I did the work and spent an hour learning the features of the computer. I went to the government club iftar. I had hosted the ministers and deputies of the construction government with their families. After the congregational prayer and breaking the fast, I spoke a few sentences to them. We had many political negotiations with some of them. Chastity was given as a gift to the children.

We came home with Dr. [Hasan] Rouhani, [Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council]. We talked about the situation of the country and the problems caused by the recent murders and the announcement of the Ministry of Intelligence and then the differences that have arisen between the left and right sides. The leftists insist on the resignation of [Mr. Dori Najafabadi], the Minister of Information, and the rightists support him. So far, the propaganda has been that they have introduced the truthers as a disruptor in the work of the government, responsible for the murders; Since yesterday, the counterattack has started and the truthers have stated that the killers are from the left and are supporters of Mr. Khatami, and they have written in the newspapers Keihan, Resalat, and Jumhori [Islamic]. Mr. [Ruhullah] Hosseinian's interview with Kihan Mozur has made the issue hotter and it is turning into sedition. The leadership also has problems to solve problems and needs help. We discussed a bit about the treatment.