Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 10, 2003

At home and in the Kushk office, I was working. Fati and her son Ali have returned from the pilgrimage to Mecca; they are satisfied with their trip. Fati says that a positive atmosphere prevails in Saudi Arabia. Her daughter Sara has seen a doctor; they say she is pregnant with twin girls.

In the evening, Mr. Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri, advisor to the Supreme Leader and member of the Expediency Discernment Council, came to the house. There was discussion about the parliamentary elections. He is seeking negotiations with the Executives of Construction Party and the Combatant Clergy Association and others for some coordination, and he complains about the Leader's office, believing that they do not allow the Leader's programs to be reformed.

At night, around the University of Tehran (in Enghelab Square), there was congestion and traffic jams, and in a few limited spots, people had gathered, but security forces dispersed them. The Westerners, who had pinned their hopes on the July 9 anniversary demonstrations, were disappointed and frustrated. Although their radio and television stations speak of thousands of people being present, fair-minded reporters admit to their failure. Reuters has said that the opponents are few, intimidated, and without leadership, and quoting a Western researcher who was on the scene, it said that it cannot be called a protest and the Islamic government is not worried about them. The situation in foreign countries is the same; although there is no fear there and they have encouragement and support, their reports mainly speak of gatherings of tens and hundreds of people. In Sweden, the Iranian embassy was attacked, and the ambassador was taken to the hospital!!

In Iraq, it was announced that the Americans had five killed and a number wounded today. I read the Quds Force report from Iraq. More than 10 operations are carried out daily against the occupiers, and they too kill a number of people daily, but their news is usually not broadcast. The wartime censorship still prevails in Iraq.

In South Africa, Nelson Mandela left the city to avoid meeting with George W. Bush and sharply criticized U.S. crimes in Iraq.

Mohamed ElBaradei, who was in Iran yesterday, expressed satisfaction with his visit, but some observers said he returned empty-handed because he had expected the immediate and unconditional signing of the Additional Protocol 2+93.

In Iraq, the Turkmens are very upset with the U.S. behavior and pressure. The day before yesterday, in a plane crash in Sudan, 116 people died, and in a shipwreck in Bangladesh, 400 people drowned.