Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – December 15, 1988

It rained a lot last night. So far this year the rain has been very little and we were worried about droughts. If this rain is everywhere, the danger is removed. We went to Vahdat Hall to participate in the Nurse's Day ceremony. I spoke for them and gave the awards. A group of girls and children of the children of the martyrs who do not have mothers and are in the Martyrs Foundation pension came. They sang a hymn.

I went to my office. Mr. Baghani [Ayatollah Montazeri's representative at Shahid Beheshti University] came. Reported the status of Shahid Beheshti University. I am supposed to speak there tomorrow. Mr. Esfandiarpour came. He is complaining about the cancellation of Kohdasht elections for the third time by the Guardian Council and asked me to console the people.

[Mr. Mohammadreza] Ayatollahi, Minister of Mines and Metals, came. He reported the trip to Hungary and said that they have counted a lot on my future trip and have shown a great desire to develop relations. He gave a report on the status of Mobarakeh mines and steel. It was decided to help to provide the currency of Foulad Mubarakeh.

In the evening, Mr. [Habibullah] Askar Oladi, [Habibullah] Shafiq, [Abulfazl Haj] Heydari and [Sidreza] Nyeri [members of the Central Council] came from the Imam Relief Committee. They reported work and asked for more facilities for the development of work and brought some of the underprivileged crafts. I accepted a bag and a shoe. Colonel Hashemi came and complained about the lack of attention to himself and Mr. Dadfar.

Mr. [Syed Ali Asghar] Hijazi, Deputy Minister of Information came. He brought Saddam's new message which has been closed to our embassy. I told him to say that my representative is Mr. Velayati, who is responsible for the Geneva negotiations, whatever they want to tell him. Saddam wants to talk to us through a channel other than the UN to save himself from the effects of the resolution.

I worked in my office until half past seven and came home. Mahdi had gone to a party. Yasser had dinner outside. We had dinner with Fati, Sara and Sakineh.