Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 6, 1983

The transportation arrangements for the children to go to school and university were not well organized. Fati, who had provided her car to take Yaser and Mehdi, was delayed for a while. I did not have much to do. I spent the time reading and resting. I did not go to the Majles either; I spoke by phone with the presidium, which was in session. Before noon, Ahmad Agha came, and we discussed the IRGC's claims regarding the confessions of the Tudeh Party leaders; there are unclear points. In the afternoon, Fati went to the [Islamic Republic] Party. Our dinner was the leftovers from last night's dinner, which we had also eaten for lunch. I checked on Mr. President; he is feeling better.

Dr. Velayati, the Foreign Minister, called and was worried that the outcome of the vote on the bill authorizing the hiring of non-bachelor's degree holders in the Foreign Ministry had become uncertain. I spoke with Engineer Mousavi about how to respond to Iraq's condition for a ceasefire in the Persian Gulf in order to contain the burning Nowruz oil wells; Iraq had said that the United Nations should supervise so that Iran would not make other uses of it. Our ambassador in Kuwait had also said that we would accept no conditions. My view is that we should seize the opportunity and contain the fire so that we are not accused of negligence in polluting the environment, and also prevent the losses from wasted oil; although Iraq is at fault, the enemies' propaganda is stronger. It was decided that, apart from the passage of our ships to Mahshahr, we would accept the other conditions. At night, I prepared one of the Friday prayer sermons for publication.