Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 24, 1996

Mr. [Sidemjid] Hedayatzadeh, our ambassador in Italy, came. The report of the growth of cooperation between Iran and Italy, despite the pressure of the United States, and that Iran's exports are more and limited credits have been established and they are waiting for government insurance.

Akhvi Mohammad, [Executive Vice President], reported on his trip to Oman and the long negotiations with Sultan Qaboos. He accepted that the United States and England are hindering the good relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and agreed to cooperate for the transfer of oil from the region and to fight against smuggling. They also talked about the elections.

The board of trustees of the university witnessed the meeting. They reported work. We approved regulatory and financial requirements. They have more than two thousand students. It is planned to double in five years. In the evening, in the meeting of the government board, we approved that the price of export currency in 1375 be maintained at the same price of 300 Tomans.

For iftar, the members of the cabinet were guests of the leadership. They read some of Nahj al-Balagheh and preached, and expressed their disapproval of the election campaign method after announcing the statement of the group of 16 [agents]. They said that the ministers who are elected by the vote of the parliament should not participate in the signing of the list, but the vice presidents and other personalities who do not need the vote of the parliament should give the list. After breaking the fast, I privately asked the reason for their change of mind, which they agreed to tell later. I came to my office. Mr. [Hossein] Marashi and [Hossein] Kamali came to get my opinion on how to act on the new leadership's request. I told them to check together and make suggestions. Finally, they came and raised three possibilities: 1- Announcing the non-approval of the list, considering the current conditions; They still haven't said explicitly that they will give a list. 2- Announcement of the list by deputies and other persons 3- Announcement of the list with another title that will be registered. I consulted with the leadership on the phone; They were supposed to think and answer tomorrow.