Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – February 1, 1983

Early in the morning I went to Parliament. I read the reports and then went to the plenary session. Before the agenda, I spoke about the anniversary of the Imam's return to Iran and called it the Day of Mercy. During the recess, I gave a speech to a group of spectators. At noon, I officiated a student marriage ceremony.

In the afternoon, Messrs. Kamyab and Abbas Safarian, our new ambassadors to Geneva and Gabon, came and spoke about their areas of assignment. Mr. Tabatabaei, the acting head of the Foundation of the Oppressed, came and gave a report. Three members of the Islamic Council of Bank Saderat came and complained about weak management, citing stagnation in operations and managers' lack of interest in the Islamic Revolution, and presented a report. Mr. Mostafa Hashemitaba, the Minister of Industries, came. He gave a report on the state of industry and asked for help to save the Protection Law. The family of the martyred professor Kamran Nejatollahi came and asked for assistance so that their child could continue their education.

The President came, and we discussed the disagreement between the commanders of the Ground Forces and the Revolutionary Guard over the nature of the attack, and we contacted the front. It was decided that if they still disagreed, they should come to Tehran.

The Syrian Minister of Intelligence came to meet me. He brought a message from Hafez al-Assad, and his aim was to obtain reassurance from us for Saudi Arabia. The Saudis claim that our aircraft have violated their airspace. I said that Iran's policy is not to attack its neighbors, but they too must take our interests into account.

At night, the Minister of Agriculture came. He complained about weakened management and the absence of clear economic guidelines. The Minister of Roads and Transportation came and gave a report on the state of the railway and the airport. He complained about the treatment of Mr. Nourian, the managing director of the national airline, by the Follow-up Headquarters [for the Imam's decree]. I spoke to Mr. Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the Prime Minister, and it was decided that they would grant more time. Messrs. Emami and Engineer Taheri came and complained that Mr. Pourostad had been sentenced by the professional court to 61 days in prison, and they considered this to be an action by the opposing faction to deprive him of his parliamentary seat.