Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – November 23, 1994

It rained a lot last night. Many times, I woke up with the sound of rain falling on the autumn leaves on the balcony. Mr. Mirzadeh, [executive vice president] came. It was discussed about the rest of the immigrants of the imposed war to return all of them within the next two years and collect the work of the [Immigrant Affairs of the Imposed War] Foundation, and also to get more credit for the reconstruction to be completed within the next three years. There was a discussion about the fight against overselling and the establishment of chain stores.

Mr. [Sidjavad] Shahristan, the son-in-law of Ayatollah [Sid Ali] Sistani, came. He brought two books of his writings, "Qa'ida la hazr wa la zarar" and a book on Usul, and explained his situation. They have restrictions in Najaf and have prevented their congregational prayers. Their incomes are more than the countries of the Persian Gulf and their main expenditure is the tuition fees of Iranian students. About one hundred and thirty million tomans per month. Also, they have two hundred thousand dollars for tuition fees in Pakistan, India, Syria and Lebanon, and the usual communication is by phone and more important work by courier. He appealed to bring currency from abroad faster and complained about Mr. Janati's statements in Tehran's Friday prayers against Mr. Sistani, who said that he did not visit the Imam during his stay in Najaf. He denied this and said that he was interested in the Islamic revolution. He gave an explanation about the "Alal Bayt Lahia al-Tarath" institution, which is his own. He brought some seals of Karbala.

Mr. [Gholamabas] Zairi, the governor of Hormozgan, came. He gave a report on the state of the province and asked for help for the province and the construction of silos, and expressed his happiness about the good rain this year. Mr. [Hossein] Mahluji and [Ali] Shekarriz came. They gave a report on the steel industry and requested for development and suggested the construction of a coal power plant next to the Tabas mine.

In the evening [Mr. Abish Keklbayov], the head of the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan came. They talked about the development of cooperation. I did not go to the meeting of the government board at night. I did the work until half past eight. Mr. [Mohammadi] Ray Shahri, [representative of the caliphate and leader of Iranian pilgrims], informed by phone that in the negotiations in Riyadh for the Hajj, the Saudis insist that we give a commitment to not carry out the acquittal and not to publish the pilgrim newspaper, and he obtained the obligation; I said not to make a commitment and come back as a consultation.