Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 9, 1995

For the start of the green belt project that is being carried out around the city with the help of the Environmental Protection Organization and the municipality, we went outside Ahvaz. By planting olive and palm seedlings, I started the work. In the budget, credit has been allocated for five projects in five large cities. On the way we passed beside the very vast army garrison that holds a lot of land of the city. It was previously outside the city and is now part of the city; it is a lot.

Then we went to the garrison of the 7th Vali-e Asr IRGC Division to participate in the joint morning parade. I reviewed the guard and the ceremony was carried out. I spoke and, with an analysis of the defense era and giving hope for the future and the futility of American sanctions, emphasized continuing the path.

We flew toward Susangerd. From the air, we saw the lands that the recent flood had damaged. There is still water in some places. On the Karkheh route, we heard explanations from Mr. Moghimi, the governor. The welcome of the people of Dasht-e Azadegan was also astonishing. They are Arab and very enthusiastic and supportive. The tribes had each participated with their own special flag. The flags were blocking the people's view. Due to the importance of the presence of the flags, they were not willing to gather them. A pleasant anthem was performed, along with the hosseh. Mr. Sheikh Ali Tarfi, the Friday prayer leader, and Jassem Jaderi, the city's representative, spoke well; although the representative is affiliated with the radical current and is critical, here he had nothing to say but praise. I too in my speech showed much attention to the region. Relying on the importance of the Karkheh Dam that covers the region, I highlighted the gathering and loyalty of the Arabs to the Arab countries.

We immediately flew toward Dezful. Mr. Mirzadeh, the Deputy Executive of the President, went to inaugurate the city's gas supply project. On the way, Mr. Forouzesh, the Minister of Construction Jihad, showed the project for stabilizing shifting sands, part of which they have turned into summer crop farms. In Dezful, they had a street welcome. For several kilometers, the streets were full of people with much fervor and emotion, but the stadium was not full and it took a long time for the people to arrive. After the welcome of Mr. Alireza Sadra, the representative, and Mr. Navvab Imam, the temporary Friday prayer leader, and Mr. Gholamreza Forouzesh, and the performance of an anthem that was not performed well due to a problem with the sound system, I spoke and praised the valiant resistance of the people of Dezful for the revolution during the missile barrage and shelling in the war with 175 missiles and three thousand artillery shells.

Then we went for the inauguration of the five-thousand-ton cold storage. Mr. Yahya Al-Eshaq, the Minister of Commerce, gave a report and I spoke. We visited the hospital under construction. They sought assistance to provide equipment. We had lunch at the Dezful Air Base. The base's new commander raised the needs. After a little rest, we flew to the site of the Karkheh Dam. Mr. Hojjati, the project executor, gave a report; the contractor is the IRGC. He said privately that the IRGC's management has weaknesses. With an explosion, the dam's construction began. We visited the huge river diversion canals; it is very huge. They have run into problems in building the sealing walls and have sought assistance from Yugoslavia.

We flew to Andimeshk. There too they had a very enthusiastic and huge gathering. After the performance of a cheerful anthem, the welcome of Mr. Mousavi, the Friday prayer leader, and Seyyed Jassem Saedi, the representative, I gave a speech and we flew toward Shush. Because we were supposed to have a live broadcast program about the dams of Khuzestan in Ahvaz at seven-thirty, I kept the speech short. In Shush too the people, with a wide welcome, had climbed on each other's shoulders. A martyr's little girl gave an interesting welcome. I said it should be broadcast on the radio. They were so enthusiastic that they made the speech difficult; like Abadan. A clerical poet recited a poem and requested that I be given the presidency for life. I said do not say such things. The Friday prayer leader too gave a welcome full of praise and eulogy. I gave a short speech.

We immediately flew to Ahvaz. We arrived with a delay. The live television broadcast program began. Messrs. Zangeneh, [Minister of Energy], Forouzesh, [Minister of Construction Jihad], Rezaei, [IRGC Commander-in-Chief], Kalantari, [Minister of Agriculture], Hojjati, Bitraf, and others spoke and explained the Karun 3 and 4, Karkheh, and Marun dams and the sugarcane project. During the reports, I raised questions and at the end I spoke for a few minutes.

Then we went and visited the steel factories of the National Group and Kavian and the Steel Complex. They started the implementation of the sixth Ahvaz bridge and the 700-thousand-ton sponge iron factory. It lasted until twelve at night. With an official send-off, we flew to Tehran. We had dinner on the way.