Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – June 7, 2003

At the meeting of the Expediency Discernment Council, the [proposal to amend Article 128 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for Public and Revolutionary Courts], concerning the issue of the presence of a lawyer in court and during investigation stages — which was disputed between the Parliament and the Guardian Council — was approved in favor of the Guardian Council's opinion. The discussion on the general policies of foreign investment began but was postponed to the next session following explanations by the commission, the Parliament, the minister, the head of the Central Bank, and the head of the Investment Organization.

In the afternoon, Mr. Ebrahim Amini, [Second Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of Experts], was my guest. He expressed concern about the current situation of the country, the disagreements, high prices, and unemployment, and asked me to take action to resolve the problems as in the past, by which such crises were usually contained.

In the evening, [Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad], the new mayor of Tehran, came. He gave a report on the municipality's situation and his plans, and criticized the government for its obstructive actions. He faces many difficulties in his work.

Today, in the newspapers of the Second of Khordad faction (Reformists), there were many attacks against Mr. [Mohammad Taghi] Mesbah Yazdi, due to his statements in Friday prayers yesterday, in which he said that American spies have come to Iran with tens of millions of dollars to buy government officials; apparently, he quoted from a Russian website. Their media are also attacking.

Mr. Muqtada al-Sadr, the head of Iraq's Shiite population, arrived with a group of companions; they have come to Iran to participate in the anniversary of Imam Khomeini's passing. This is his first trip outside Iraq. He does not speak Persian. I asked him many questions about the situation in Iraq, and he answered. Among other things, he said that for the first two or three weeks, the Iraqi people were not dissatisfied with the Americans, but gradually most people became dissatisfied and angry. He said that about 50 parties have been established in Iraq, which will lead to increased discord. He complained about Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad Baqir] al-Hakim, saying that in his speech in Najaf, he did not mention the names of his father and martyred brothers — though some of his companions said he did — and said that armed attacks against the Americans are increasing day by day, and that they are not doing any service for the Iraqi people. He believes it is necessary for all Shiite groups to be united. At the same time, he has not yet visited Mr. al-Hakim, saying that he (al-Hakim) should follow Ayatollah [Seyyed Kazem] al-Haeri. I advised them to maintain brotherly relations.

In Iraq today, in an attack, a number of Americans were killed and wounded. It was announced that a number of members of the Badr Corps have been arrested. Mr. al-Hakim has protested.

In Kabul, a bus carrying 34 German soldiers was blown up in an explosive operation. There were eight killed, the rest wounded, and several other operations as well. [Tony] Blair and [George] Bush are under intense pressure from opponents for deceiving the people and influencing intelligence officials to lie about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

In Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, a number of people were killed and wounded in an explosion. In Iraq, oil sales began today, and there is a strike at the Basra refinery due to the transfer of products to Kuwait.

[Mohamed] ElBaradei, [Director General of the IAEA], in a report given to members of the Board of Governors, said that Iran has not reported all its nuclear activities in the past, and based on this, a wide propaganda campaign has been launched against Iran; apparently, it was due to American pressure.

In Pakistan, differences between the opposition parties and [Pervez] Musharraf, [the President], have reached a peak, and the approval of the budget may face difficulties. In India and Pakistan, more than 1,600 people have died due to the heat. In Burma (Myanmar) and Zimbabwe, leaders of opposition parties have been arrested, and Western pressure has increased.

The draft constitution of the European Union has been prepared, and apparently, the name of God has not been mentioned in it, which has caused protests. The EU Council has issued a resolution that Turkey must amend its constitution and make its military budget transparent in order to join the European Union, which has angered Turkey.

In Amsterdam, 10,000 people demonstrated demanding full legalization of drug use. [Hamid] Karzai, [head of the Afghan Transitional Administration], in England, received a decoration from the Queen and said that if Afghanistan does not receive $20 billion in new aid, security will be completely lost.

Today, God granted Mehdi and Fereshteh a son [named Yassin]. The delivery was by cesarean section at Mehr Hospital. The mother and child are in good condition.