Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - January 27, 2003

The decision on Iraq behind closed doors / It was approved today that the house arrest of Ayatollah Montazeri will be lifted starting tomorrow / Faezeh said that the female athletes' team scheduled to go to Qatar has faced opposition from the security department [of the Physical Education Organization].

Full diary text: Today, Hans Blix, [head of the UN weapons inspectors], and [Mohamed] ElBaradei, [head of the International Atomic Energy Agency], submitted the report on the results of the inspections in Iraq to the Security Council, and the members of the Council are discussing it behind closed doors. Miscellaneous information leaked so far suggests a report indicating halfway cooperation from Iraq. Regarding interviews with scientists and explanations about the fate of former weapons, they consider the cooperation incomplete and are calling for continued inspections; most members and governments want the same, and even the majority of the American people agree with granting more time.

Elections are held in Israel tomorrow, and [Ariel] Sharon, [the Prime Minister of Israel], seeks to attract the votes of Israeli radicals by demonstrating extreme cruelty in Gaza.

[Mr. Mohammad-Hossein Khalili], the representative, and [Hamidreza Shahbazi], the Governor of Karaj, along with Mr. [Amir] Nasrollahzadeh, the owner of the Tecnogas factory, came. They provided a report on the status of the restructuring plan for Islamabad Hill [in Karaj]. I had previously allocated 660 hectares of land and 300 million Tomans for it. It has not been followed up by the new government and remains incomplete; however, the value of the lands has increased severalfold, providing them with good capital to continue the work. They requested that I visit the industrial zone and the Halijerd Institute for the Disabled in Karaj. They said that [the construction and operation of Line 5 of] the Metro has brought satisfaction and comfort to the people of Karaj and that they pray for you. They brought a sample of an innovative rapid stove recently built, which operates faster and healthier than microwaves.

At noon, the Presidium of the Assembly of Experts [attended by Messrs. Ali Meshkini, Ebrahim Amini, [Seyed Hassan] Taheri-Khorramabadi, and Ghorbanali Dorri-Nadjafabadi] held a meeting in my office. We determined the agenda and the date for the next assembly. We also discussed current affairs. It was approved today that the house arrest of Ayatollah Montazeri will be lifted starting tomorrow. Ayatollah Meshkini, [Chairman of the Assembly of Experts], consulted on how to handle related issues. Mr. Taheri-Khorramabadi recounted the details of his trip to England and his prostate surgery performed via the closed method [TURP]; he has not yet made a full recovery.

Faezeh, [President of the Islamic Federation of Women's Sports], came and said that the female athletes' team scheduled to go to Qatar has faced opposition from the security department [of the Physical Education Organization]. She mentioned that she has obtained a British visa to continue her studies; I did not agree.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 shook eastern Turkey. (January 27, 2003)