Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 27, 1996

Mr. [Hossein] Mahluji, [Minister of Mines and Metals] came. He reported on the status of steel, copper and aluminum and new plans and talked about elections and opposition. Dr. [Mohammed Ali] Najafi, [Minister of Education] came. He asked for the improvement of the livelihood of cultural workers and spoke for the continuation of the election work.

Dr. Nourbakhsh, [CEO of the Central Bank] and the deputies of the Central Bank came. gave a report on the currency and rial situation; The currency situation is good. This year, we have had more than six billion dollars of commercial market and almost all arrears have been cleared, some with a three-year schedule and only about thirteen billion dollars remain unpaid, which with potential new obligations, the total debt is 23 billion dollars; While the Turkish government has a debt of 170 billion dollars. The Riyal needs of the budget are met without a deficit, but liquidity is high. Mr. [Ali Mohammad] Basharti, [Interior Minister] came; He expressed surprise at Ayatollah Khamenei's statements in the meeting with the government that I said he was not upset.

Mohammad's brother came for the ceremony of the 40th night of his late father and election issues. Mr

[Ibrahim] Amini called from Qom and asked me to consider a time to negotiate with the teachers' community if I travel to Qom.

Mr. [Ahmad] Jalali came from London in the evening. He gave the report of holding the dialogue conference of the followers of religions under the supervision of UNESCO and said its good effects and got opinions for the continuation of the work. Mr. [Mohammed Sharif] Mahdavi, our ambassador in South Africa, came. He gave a report about the importance of that place and the many facilities and the serious influence of Israel and all kinds of cooperation and their great interest in my trip, and the time was decided.

Dr. [Hasan] Rouhani, [Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament] came. The report of the meeting of the militant clergy community and their displeasure at the emergence of a new rival and protest gave Mr. Natiq a light, who without consulting the clergy community, implemented the program of the protest statement of the parliamentarians against the brokers' statement and told about the decision of the militant clergy community to hold a meeting in my presence to solve the problem.

Iftar was held at the Nihad [Presidential] club, the deputy ministers were my guests. It passed with congregational prayers, breaking the fast, welcoming Dr. Habibi and my detailed talk about the elections and the country's situation and advice. I came home Mr. [Hossein] Marashi informed that the leadership answered the question of the group of servants and said that there was no insult to the parliament in the statement; Contrary to the statement of 150 members of the parliament, who considered it an insult. Mr. Natiq Nouri, [Speaker of the Parliament] came. He is upset about the situation. I said it's your fault. Helped to solve the problem. He is saddened by the attack of Bahman weekly by Mr. [Attaullah] Mohajerani.