Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 27, 1982

Because Effat and Fati had to leave the house at 3:30 a.m. to go to Mecca, I stayed awake until almost 4 a.m. Then, after the dawn prayer, I slept until 8. I studied for the Friday prayer sermons. Mr. [Mohsen] Doagoo, the deputy minister of Education, came and explained the disagreements with Mr. Mozaffarinejad and Najafi Elmi and others who had been dismissed.

While I was delivering the Friday sermons, a tremendous explosion was heard, and Tehran's anti-aircraft guns began roaring and firing. I continued the sermon, and the people did not flinch. The Imam's office and the President's office informed us to finish the prayer sooner, but we finished it almost as usual. Later they said that an Iraqi MiG-25 had been spotted at high altitude and was being pursued; while escaping, it broke the sound barrier, which was heard as an explosion. In the afternoon, I stayed at home.