Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 15, 1990

[Mr. Omar C], the Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia came. The formal meeting and talks were usual. [Mr. Gholamreza Aghazadeh], the oil minister came. He is satisfied with the price and production of oil; OPEC members are trying to prevent additional production; We ourselves produce an extra amount that is saved for possible more critical situations.

Mr. [Mehdi] Nasiri, the director of [the newspaper] Keihan, came. He defined the stages of his dispute with Mr. [Mohammed] Asghari, [former managing director of Keihan] and Mr. [Syed Mohammad] Khatami, [Director of Keihan Institute and Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance] that led to his retention by the leadership and defended his press policy.

The news came that Baghdad Radio read Saddam Hussein's letter to me and Saddam accepted our demands in this letter. Last night's guess was correct. A flood of congratulatory calls started; It is an important victory and it indicates Iraq's decision to resist in Kuwait against the US, which has given us points. Since early morning, they had announced the announcement of a generous action in connection with Iran, and we were waiting.

[Mr. Yusuf bin Alavi], Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman, came to meet; They were very saddened to hear the news that our demands were accepted, which for them is a sign of the continuation of the crisis in the south of the Persian Gulf. He was worried about our cooperation with Iraq; I said that we will not cooperate on the issue of aggression against Kuwait and insist on leaving Kuwait. reported that Saudi Arabia and other countries in the south of the Persian Gulf are willing to improve their relations with Iran, and the President of the United States talked to the Sultan of Oman for 45 minutes in this regard and to discuss the solution to the problem and relations with Iran, and asked for our help in the release of the American hostages; I said it is America's turn to act.

In the evening, the government board had a meeting. Everyone is happy that Iraq accepted our conditions and consider it an important victory. The Supreme National Security Council had a meeting. It was approved to allow the Iraqi delegation to come to Iran from next Sunday. At night, I stayed in my office to take care of the affairs of the prisoners who were about to be released.