Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - November 24, 2001

- Continuation of the Approval of the General Policies Draft in the Industry Sector at the Expediency Council

- Sheikh Hassan Sanei's proposal to support the Guardian Council in the electoral plan referred to the Council.
- Report by Mohsen Nourbakhsh about his summons to court and his acquittal with a report from Ebrahim Raisi, the then-head of the General Inspection Organization, and a report on Tahmasb Mazaheri's efforts to dismiss the Central Bank Governor and the opposition from Seyyed Mohammad Khatami.
- Inauguration of the ninth International Quran Exhibition and listening to reports from Ahmad Masjed Jamei and Ali Asghar Ramadanpour.
- Negotiation with Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, inquiring about his well-being and consulting on the urgent electoral plan for the sixth parliament.

Full Daily Report:

In the Infrastructure Commission of the Expediency Council, we approved several more sections of the general policies for the industry, and we also discussed the urgent plan for [electoral law reform]. Mr. [Hassan] Sanei, a member of the Expediency Council, stated that the opinion of the Guardian Council should be supported to prevent reckless individuals from entering the parliament, although this will pose problems for the Council as well.

Mr. [Mohsen] Nourbakhsh, the Central Bank Governor, mentioned that he had been summoned to court regarding two cases and was acquitted in both. The General Inspection Organization has created this burden and stated that Mr. [Tahmasb] Mazaheri, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, sought to replace the Central Bank Governor, which Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, the President, opposed.

In the evening, I went to the inauguration of the ninth International Quran Exhibition at the Center for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults. Accompanied by Mr. [Ahmad] Masjed Jamei, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and Mr. [Ali Asghar] Ramadanpour, the exhibition manager, we visited various sections. We visited booths from some Islamic countries that had nothing significant to offer and welcomed them. For the ceremony, we went to the Hijab Hall. After the Minister's welcome and the report from the deputy, I spoke about the grandeur, importance, strength, comprehensiveness, and inviolability of the Quran's content. We returned home for Iftar.

In the media, expectations from both sides [the left and the right] regarding the Expediency Council concerning the urgent electoral reform plan are being fueled. I called Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami to inquire about his health; he has suffered from a herniated disc and said he is recovering and has gotten out of bed. Discussions were held regarding the issues related to the urgent plan.

The Bonn Conference for Afghanistan has faced a one-day delay, and further delays are anticipated. Preparations are lacking, and security arrangements are time-consuming. Today, the United Front in Kabul held a meeting to elect members for the delegation to Bonn, Germany, and did not reach a conclusion, postponing the meeting until tomorrow. Some participants could not reach the destination due to the insecurity of Afghanistan's roads. In [the front] Kunduz, the Taliban are gradually surrendering.

In Palestine, during the funeral of five students, five others were martyred, and Hamas has vowed to avenge the blood of martyr Mahmoud Abu al-Hanour. Today, 30,000 people participated in his funeral. Instances of anthrax bacteria being sent to Iran have also been reported, and criticism of America's inaction regarding the Middle East issue is intensifying.