Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – February 19, 1983

Before noon, I had discussions with Mr. Ahmad about the war and judicial affairs. In the afternoon, Mr. Mohsen Rafiqdoost described the situation at the front. He complained that [Mr. Faker], the Imam's representative [in the IRGC], vetoes the decisions of the IRGC command and its central council; among other things, the IRGC wants to expand, and Mr. Faker considers this a cause of weakening the Army. Such authority has also been granted to the Imam's representative in the IRGC's charter. He suggested that, just as I am the Imam's representative in the Army, I should also intervene in the IRGC. I refused and said that the Imam's representative in the IRGC should not be weakened and that matters should proceed according to the law. He informed me that they had obtained an aerial photography camera from Syria, which is a very important aid and a sign of the Syrians' friendship. Our cameras had been lost during the war, and they are badly needed.

Last night, news arrived that during Friday prayers in Mashhad, a television cameraman had attempted to assassinate Mr. Vaez Tabasi using an electrical wire, but thanks to his timely self-defense and the help of the Revolutionary Guards, he failed, and he himself was killed by the guards' gunfire. I called Mr. Tabasi by telephone. It became clear that his colleague, who was probably involved in the conspiracy, had been arrested, and likewise the bodyguard of Mr. Shirazi [the Friday Prayer Leader of Mashhad], who had killed him, had been detained, and interrogations are continuing to uncover the network. The Mojahedin have also claimed responsibility for it in Paris. Evidence has been found suggesting that they were infiltrators working for the Mojahedin.