Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 30, 2003

Yesterday, the Iraqi Governing Council failed to elect a president from among its members and appointed nine individuals to serve as president on a rotating basis, each for a one-month term, indicating serious disagreement and lack of coordination. Mr. Ibrahim al-Jaafari, from the Dawa Party, is the first president.

In the Article 90 Commission of the sixth parliament, a meeting was held regarding the case of Zahra Kazemi's death, and Mr. Saeed Mortazavi did not attend. Later, the commission's spokesperson expressed concern that they do not know what has happened to the five arrested individuals. It seems they are worried that this might implicate the Ministry of Intelligence and the government, and through propaganda, they are trying to preemptively discredit that possible outcome.

In Australia, the father of a Guantanamo Bay detainee has imprisoned himself in a cage as a protest against America's actions.

Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi Foreign Minister, has traveled to the United States to obtain the detailed congressional report regarding the Saudi government's alleged involvement in the September 11 attacks. George W. Bush rejected the proposal to declassify it, but Saud al-Faisal has requested that the report be released so that Saudi Arabia can defend itself, because the media are already discussing its contents even without its publication.

Fifteen members of Hezbollah's Leadership Council came. Mr. Hassan Nasrallah explained their situation and said they use the Shebaa Farms as a justification for Hezbollah's continued armed status. He noted that pressure from the U.S., Israel, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and others for their disarmament is very high. He expressed support for Syria, stating that support is even greater than during the lifetime of Hafez al-Assad. He expressed concern that the arena of jihad against America in Iraq is in the hands of Sunnis, especially Ba'athists, while Shiites are seen as allies of America, which tarnishes the image of Shia among the world's mujahideen forces. I said that this concern was also evident during the flourishing of the Palestinian jihad and Hezbollah's diminished operations.

Mr. Ghafour Garshasbi, the former representative of Bandar Lengeh, came. While thanking me for my positions and offering some advice, he requested more of my presence and said that he has distanced himself from the media scene.

Mr. Ghasem Ravanbakhsh came and consulted about the text of a letter from scholars confirming their support for the Supreme Leader.

In the evening, the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Azad University held a meeting to approve the budget balance sheet, which has reached approximately 300 billion tomans. Approving several new units in small cities such as Bonab, Roudan, Hajjiabad, Varzaqan, Sofian, etc., and a report on the entrance exam and the replacement of questions to prevent cheating were among the other agenda items.

At night, I participated in a mourning ceremony at the Supreme Leader's office. On the way back home, Mr. Khatami was in my car, and we discussed the danger posed by America and the solutions to counter it.

The interrogation of Maryam Rajavi in Paris regarding the nature of the charges has begun, including the source of the $8,150,000.