Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 7, 1997

Akhvi Mohammad, [executive deputy of the president] came. He said about the state of the government and the movements of some of the new ministers. He consulted on the issue of rice, which has become a problem. Mr. [Mohammedreza] Nematzadeh came to consult with [Minister of Petroleum] Mr. [Bijan Namdar] Zanganeh, [Minister of Petroleum], to consult about accepting the management position of the [National] Petrochemical Company. He said that he wants to cooperate with the research center [Strategic Expediency Analysis Council].

Mr. [Mahmoud] Mohammadi Iraqi, [head of the Islamic Propaganda Organization] came. He asked me to start a lesson on the political philosophy of Islam, and he expressed his concern about the negative thoughts about the authority of the jurisprudence that has permeated universities and circles, and asked for a remedy.

Dr. [Abdullah] Jasbi, [President of Islamic Azad University] came. He brought some issues of his new newspaper called "Afarinsh". He said that they will publish another newspaper called "Shaperak" soon and that he is thinking of establishing a party. He expressed concern about the possible pressures that will be imposed on the Islamic Azad University in the new conditions.

Salmani came for correction. Mr. [Seyd Mohammad] Mirmohammadi came in the evening. He explained about his new job in the Leader's Office [= Deputy for Supervision and Audit of the Office of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution] and complained about the replacement of deputies in the Program and Budget Organization and asked to give Mr. [Hashem] a job as leader, and he was also upset about the many transfers in the Presidential Office.

Mr. [Gholamreza] came. He consulted for accepting the job of the embassy or the deputy minister of mining in the Ministry of Mines and Metals; I said that both are good, but his preference is the second.

I was the guest of the leader. We talked about the history foundation, the secretariat of the assembly and discussion of general policies and [internal] regulations of the assembly and the issues of the country and the EU envoy. He praised my book "Hashmi Rafsanjani - Era of Struggle", which was published recently, but they say that the date of his trip to Iraq was in 1336 and not 1340 [which is mentioned in the book], and they have seen some other mistakes that they were supposed to point out. They are saddened by the recent increase in attacks and criticism against the religious authority and they expect people like me to defend them.