Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 17, 1983

Mohsen, Sahar went to the airport with her father and they did not wake us up. At eight in the morning, she called from the airport saying that the plane had been delayed and now they were saying that they had sold fifty extra tickets and would not let some people board, and there was an upset at the airport. I spoke with [Mr. Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian], the Minister of Roads [and Transportation], and asked him to follow up. Mohsen called again and said they were saying that the students should pay the extra amount and go on the Italian plane - 40 percent student discount -; I repeatedly contacted the Minister of Roads [and Transportation] and the president of [Iran National Airlines] Homa. It became clear that they had no control and were receiving false reports from the person responsible for this situation. At noon, Mohsen returned home and it became clear that the reports they had given me as well had been false. It seems that people opposed to the Revolution deliberately create discontent in such centers; serious action must be taken.

In the afternoon, I went to the Majlis. We had a meeting of the presiding board. At five, a meeting of the Economic Council was also held at the President's office. We discussed the distribution channels for household goods and, to some extent, the establishment of a free trade port - which is supposed to be created in Kish -. After the meeting, with the President and the Prime Minister, we discussed the new ministers of agriculture and housing [and urban development], respectively Dr. [Isa] Kalantari and Engineer [Mohammad] Morovat or [Serajeddin] Kazerooni. The President wants to go to Bushehr and Mashhad.