Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 28, 1982

I stayed at home until three in the afternoon. I studied, rested, and went for a walk. At four o'clock I went to Parliament and read the reports. Dr. [Abdollah] Jasbi came, and we discussed Islamic Azad University, whose management he had accepted, as well as full-time work in the party, reconstruction efforts, and civil service recruitment.

A group from Jihad came. They had matters regarding the bylaws and the Central Council. A group from the Revolutionary Guards' Movements Unit came and complained about Mr. [Seyyed Mehdi] Hashemi and the unit's performance.

At six o'clock we had a meeting with the country's leaders, office members, and the arbitrators of the Algiers Declaration. The companies belonging to the oil consortium, which have claimed nearly ten billion dollars in damages against us, have referred the American group's forty percent share to The Hague and the British BP's forty percent share to the Paris Chamber of Commerce for arbitration. Some others have also turned toward negotiation and settlement.

Some were apprehensive about the Algiers Declaration and preferred that we somehow extricate ourselves, while others believed that since the foreigners' claims would ultimately be brought before courts, The Hague was the best venue, and it was decided that we would continue.

The President, the Prime Minister, and Ahmad Agha stayed at Parliament for dinner, and we brought in food from outside. Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Gharazi, the Oil Minister, was also concerned about the situation on Khark Island and the possibility of oil exports being cut off if Iraq's missile attacks on the island continued. It was decided that protective and defensive measures would be implemented, and he reported that the settlement with the Italian oil company had helped moderate their claims. I was tired and slept at Parliament.