Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – November 17, 1997

In the case of Iraq, America still looks like a threat, and Iraq has taken a step back and said that it is ready to accept the presence of American inspectors, provided that they are equally members of the [UN] Security Council, but America immediately replied that Iraq cannot determine the composition of the inspectors.

At home until ten o'clock in the morning, I reviewed the [book ready for publication] of the interviews of 1360. We went to Koshk's office. By four o'clock in the afternoon, I read the reports. In the newspapers, Ayatollah Montazeri's severe criticism of the leadership has been paid attention to some extent, and some newspapers, such as Keihan, Resalat, and the Islamic Republic, have made a strong attack on Mr. Montazeri. Foreign radios like Israel have paid attention to it and will probably use it a lot in the coming days. In insider circles, there has been serious excitement and anxiety and deep concerns.

Mohsen came in the afternoon. He consulted for his speech at the introduction ceremony of the Metro management [operator company] which was announced today. In the evening, Mr. Abbas Akhundi, [deputy director of Sedavasima] came. Expressing great concern, he looked for solutions and proposed various solutions regarding the effects of Ayatollah Montazeri's statements. We have to wait for their decision and he was worried that most of the newspapers had not taken any action. The leadership expects the personalities to take serious, logical defense and expose the weak points of the speeches of people like Mr. Montazeri and Mr. Azari [Qomi] and....