Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - December 17, 2002

Hossein Marashi wanted to understand to what extent the Leadership, the Guardian Council, or the Expediency Council were willing to compromise on the "Twin Bills" [the Elections Law and the Clarification of Presidential Powers].

Full Diary Entry: Mr. Hossein Marashi, the representative from Kerman, came to visit. He mentioned that the "Second of Khordad" [Reformist] faction is in a state of confusion and is inclined to reach an understanding with the opposing faction somehow. He noted that the failure of the plan to incite the universities, the "Polling Case," anxiety over the consequences of the government’s two bills, the political deadlock, and public dissatisfaction have brought about this situation. He asked me to take the lead in establishing a reconciliation. He wanted to find out to what extent the Leadership, the Guardian Council, or the Expediency [Discernment] Council were prepared to compromise regarding the "Twin Bills" [the Elections Law and the Clarification of Presidential Powers]. He stated that the case of [Abbas] Abdi has caused them damage.

Mr. [Manouchehr] Gharavi, the former CEO of Iran Khodro, came. He is dissatisfied with his removal from the CEO position. He recounted his fifteen years of service and mentioned that the company's managers had intended to resign, but he prevented them. He said that the leaders of the Participation Front [Hezb-e Mosharekate] once invited him to a meeting for consultation on economic and industrial affairs, and in that meeting, he told them: "You will see no good results because you weakened the nation's savior, Mr. Rafsanjani, and you yourselves lack the power for economic development."

In the afternoon, Mr. [Karim Farajzadeh] Halvayi, the Deputy Minister of Roads [and Transportation], came. He provided a report on the status of projects of interest to me, such as the Kerman-Zahedan and Bafgh-Mashhad railways, the [Tehran-] North Freeway, and the expansion of the Lahijan-Gorgan road to four lanes, etc.

The congress of Iraqi government opposition in London concluded. They elected a 63-member committee to manage the transition of power. Four groups of participants expressed opposition to the conference results. The US and the UK explicitly state that the Iraqi government provided an incorrect and flawed report to the inspectors and are beating the drums of war. Due to concerns over war and the strikes in Venezuela, oil prices in the US and the UK have reached the $30 mark, though the military in Venezuela has begun intervening to break the oil industry strikes.

The wave of opposition to the assassination order given by [George W.] Bush [US President] to the CIA is peaking. The Austrian Judiciary announced that if the CIA carries out an assassination in Austria, it will be prosecuted, and Bush himself might face prosecution.

In Afghanistan, the commander of US troops admitted that 12 operations against American soldiers were carried out over 10 days. Today in Kabul, two youths threw a bomb into a car carrying Americans, wounding them. Two other youths planning another operation were arrested. [Hamid] Karzai [President of the Interim Administration] issued a decree for general disarmament and prohibited military commanders from interfering in national and political affairs.

Russia has also joined those protesting US propaganda against Iran's two nuclear centers in Natanz and Arak, calling them non-military and stating that the US goal is to pressure Russia to withdraw from completing the Bushehr [Nuclear] Power Plant, which is unacceptable.

In the US, people from 20 Muslim countries were forced to undergo fingerprinting and provide personal information, which will naturally lead to reciprocal measures. In Antarctica, a salt lake covering five square kilometers was discovered at a depth of 15 meters under the ice, remaining from thousands of years ago.