Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 8, 1990

Mr. [Mohsen] Noorbakhsh, [Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance], came for economic and political issues. Mr. [Ali] Khorram came. He described the recent negotiations with Barzan [Tikriti] in Geneva. They were upset with our proposal to announce the acceptance of the 1975 Algerian Treaty before traveling to Tehran and suggested an immediate meeting of the oil ministers of the two countries in Tehran or elsewhere.

Mr. [Abdullah] Nouri, the Minister of the Interior for earthquake victims and national affairs, came and complained about the ministers of health and education and the lack of coordination in the selection of general managers. A group of cooperative development officials came. They reported on the progress of the works and requested for the development of the work. They wanted to become the ministry of cooperative sector. I canceled the meeting of Mr. [Hamid] Mirzadeh to deal with the issues related to the crisis in the region.

American military forces have entered Saudi Arabia. I completed the reply letter to Saddam. I attended the meeting of the government board, but I came to my office early. This evening, [George] Bush and Saddam [Hussein, the presidents of the United States and Iraq] were supposed to have an important speech. Bush said the official announcement of sending troops to prevent Saddam's evil and clarified that the troops will be used to defend Saudi Arabia and not to take back Kuwait. Iraq also announced that it annexed Kuwait.

In the evening, the central council [community] of Rohanit Mubariz [Tehran] had a meeting. The list of candidates for the election of the Assembly of Experts was in the order, which was approved. Chastity and children came to my office for dinner and sleep. They slept late.