Akbar Hashemi’s Memoirs – February 6, 2003

Hassan Aqa Khomeini spoke regarding the participation of the National-Religious groups in the city council elections, stating that the Mosharekat [Party] members are not inclined for them to participate, as they would take a portion of their votes. On the other hand, they fear that if they reject them, their supporters will be offended and won't vote for them. They prefer for the Judiciary to block them, and since they see the Judiciary has not done so, they have sent a message to the National-Religious groups that if they insist on their candidacy, the Leader will deal with them; they suggested that the candidates should resign of their own accord, which they have reportedly accepted.

Full Diary Text:

I went to the center of the Industrial Property Office to inaugurate the Cadastre [land registration mapping] and Intellectual Property projects, where the managers of the Deeds and Properties Registration Organization were gathered. In the briefing session, Mr. [Mohammad-Reza] Alizadeh, the Deputy Head of the Judiciary and the Head of the Registration Organization, provided a report, and we visited the projects for the computerization of companies, legal entities, and the cadastre.

In the assembly hall, Mr. Alizadeh gave a report on the overall activities of the [Deeds and Properties] Registration [Organization]. 140 new notaries—men and women—took their oaths. I spoke about the role of accurate registration practices in the security and tranquility of society.

I worked at the Kushk office until the evening and then returned home. Hassan Aqa Khomeini came by at night. He invited me to the anniversary ceremony for Haj Ahmad Aqa. He complained about my absence from the February 1st (12 Bahman) ceremony at the Imam's Shrine. He mentioned that Ayatollah Montazeri's household expected a massive presence of students and people to visit him after the lifting of his house arrest, but contrary to their expectations, only a few of his well-known friends went. He quoted some of those around him saying that his illness is deep-seated.

Regarding the participation of the National-Religious groups in the city council elections, he said the [Mosharekat Party] members are not inclined for them to participate because they would take a portion of their votes; on the other hand, they fear that if they reject them, their supporters will be offended and won't vote for them. They prefer for the Judiciary to block them, and seeing that the Judiciary has not intervened, they have sent a message to them that if they insist on their candidacy, the Leader will deal with them. They suggested that they resign themselves, and apparently, they have accepted, but have requested that their eligibility be confirmed first before they step down.

He said that in certain circles, people say Mr. Hashemi's prudence and policy are interesting, as his opponents who wronged him are now facing problems without it being attributed to him, and that God's justice has done its work.

He mentioned that two nights ago, there was a meeting at the house of Mr. [Gholamhossein] Karbaschi [Secretary-General of the Executives of Construction Party] where the leaders of the 2nd of Khordad [Reformist] movement were present. They criticized Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami [the President] for his reaction to the book Shonood-e Ashbah (Eavesdropping on Ghosts), questioning why he did not have a similar reaction to [Akbar] Ganji's book [Red Eminence], which was published against Mr. Hashemi with the permission of the Ministry of Guidance? We discussed the Iraq crisis, the potential war, and the issues regarding the nuclear projects in Arak and Natanz.

It gradually became clear that last night, during the UN Security Council session, [Colin] Powell [U.S. Secretary of State] presented intercepted audio of Iraqi officers discussing the concealment of prohibited weapons, which was effective; however, China, Russia, and France are still not in agreement with authorizing war.

The U.S. has announced it has 110,000 troops in the region with another 70,000 ready for deployment, and the UK has stated that its troop numbers in the region will soon reach 40,000.