Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – October 12, 1996

I was at home. Dr. [Ali Akbar] Velayati, [Minister of Foreign Affairs] and [Mahmoud] Vaezi, [Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs] and [Mohammed Reza] Nouri [Shahrudi], our ambassador in Saudi Arabia, came. Mr. Nouri gave the report of the meeting with Mr. Nayef [bin Abdulaziz], the minister of Saudi Arabia and the message of Mr. Fahd [bin Abdulaziz], [King of Saudi Arabia]; It is very detailed. While referring to the post-revolutionary history and admitting the shortcomings of Saudi Arabia, Nayef has asked us to ignore the past and enter directly into negotiations for cooperation, but explaining the issues related to the recent explosion in Dhahran, in the center of the Americans, he claimed that the cause of the explosion is Hijaz Hezbollah, and they are supported and guided through Lebanon's Hezbollah, and they all return to Iran, and their emir, who recently died in prison in Syria, met with the leader of Iran.

He has demanded that Iran hand over four of them, who according to the Syrians have come to Iran, and threatened that if Iran does not cooperate in this matter, bitter incidents may happen that will make the entire region insecure. He said that he did not share the results of the research with the Americans. I said that the answer should be prepared and for the answer, the Supreme Council of National Security and Leadership should be consulted.

Then Mr. [Mahmoud] Vaezi, [Deputy for Europe and America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs], gave the report of his trip to Russia. The Russians in the Commonwealth of Nations are worried about the events in Afghanistan and are afraid that the Taliban will provoke the Muslims of Central Asia and are determined not to let northern Afghanistan fall into their hands. They are willing to cooperate with Iran, which is compatible with our policy. He also gave the report of the expert negotiations on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, which has not been completed, and the Russians have adjusted their position and are ready for it to belong to the country that owns the coast and the rest is shared.

There was some talk about the presidential election. Dr. Velayati wants to be nominated and believes that he has more opinions than others. They reported on the holding of the elections of the medical system, which initially the non-Hezbollah doctors boycotted because of the new one-sided regulations, and recently many of them are ready to participate in the elections.

Mr. Kazemi came and reported on his services in London. Recently, the British government asked us to return him to Iran. Shab Fati came and gave a report about the heavy costs of treating hemophilia patients, who are charged a small amount of one hundredth of them, which he said, it would be better if it were completely free.

At night Mr. [Mohammed] Emami Kashani came. It was discussed about next week's meeting of militant clerical community and the issue of choosing a candidate for the presidential election, how to coordinate with the community of teachers [Qom seminary] or brokers, the time of voting, announcing the candidate and also negotiating with possible candidates to determine policies.