Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 16, 1989

We left home at seven in the morning. On the way, I visited the subway project on Shahid Muftah Street; Good progress. I reached the parliament at half past seven. In the reports, the intensity of the conflicts in Beirut and the optimism expressed by [Xavier Perez Dekoyar], the Secretary General of the United Nations, about the future negotiations between Iran and Iraq attract attention.

Mr. [Mohammed Ali] Ansari informed by telephone from Imam's House that Imam has given a message to the representatives. I told him to bring it so that we can read it in the meeting. I stayed in the meeting until half past ten.

Mr. [Majid] Ghasemi [Chairman of the Central Bank] came to my office. He was worried about the Prime Minister's threatening letter to the Central Bank regarding the fault in the purchase of basic goods. I said that buying basic goods is important, take it seriously.

Mr. [Isa] Valai, the head of the commercial commission, came. He said about price control, punishments and people's questions about recent issues. Mr. [Hossein] Kamali, the head of the Labor and Social Affairs Commission, came. He said about the need of the people to explain and remove the effects of rumors and the need to take action to improve the economic situation and control prices. Azhar expected that I would take a representative of the workers with me on my trip to the Soviet Union. I said I will take him. Mr. [Mohammed Ebrahim] Asgharzadeh [Tehran representative] came. He expressed his willingness to cooperate on the issues of traveling to Russia.

Timsar [Mustafa] Turabi [Head of the Army Information Protection Organization] came. He warned about the efforts of the Ministry of Intelligence to interfere in security affairs and talked about the need to strengthen the army's morale. Mr. [Ahmed] Salek [Head of the Islamic Movement Guidance Center] came. He gave a report on the work related to the liberation movements and inquired about the affairs of returning Iraqis, refugees and fighters. Mr. Imami and Rabbani came from the Central Council of Guilds. They complained to the Ministry of Commerce. I said that I have appointed Mr. [Mohammed] Yazdi to be the judge in disputes. I emphasized that they should cooperate with Mr. Yazdi; they accepted

I did the office work until 6:45 in the afternoon. I came home Mehdi, Fati and Yaser went to the iftar party and Efat, who was invited, didn't go so that I wouldn't be alone at home.

In the evening, Dr. Velayati [Foreign Affairs Minister] spoke on the phone about the promising signs of the future negotiations in Geneva [Iran-Iraq peace] and asked for time to consult with the meeting of the heads of the powers and raise the issues in question. A number of 165 members of parliament asked the imam in a letter to amend the constitution.