Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 16, 1993

After the prayer, I read the reports. After breakfast, we flew by helicopters toward the desertification control operations headquarters in the Avareh region of Ardestan; unlike yesterday, the weather was favorable. After nearly an hour of flight, we landed next to the headquarters. A thin layer of snow had settled on the highlands.

At the headquarters, which was set up in concrete bunkers from the war era, the provincial director-general of [Jihad-e Sazandegi] and Mr. [Gholamreza] Forouzesh, [the Minister of Jihad-e Sazandegi], provided explanations and said the desertification control program for Isfahan is 1,200,000 hectares over a period of five years.

Then, I delivered an encouraging speech to the gathered forces, who were mainly Hezbollah and Basiji youth. I listened to Mr. Forouzesh's report. I planted a sapling. We moved by cars toward the village of Amirabad. On the way, we passed through good pastures created in past years from saxaul and wild spinach species, and the relevant director explained. We became certain that our desertification control project could be successful.

The residents of Jalalabad village were waiting for us by the road with wild rue and slogans. We stopped. I asked about their well-being. It is a small village with 10 households in the desert that has a school with only 8 students. I gave a gift to their martyr's family. They said they had dug a deep well and requested a motor.

We went to the village of Amirabad. A massive crowd from Zavareh and surrounding villages gathered there and welcomed us warmly. I went among them and showed affection. The Friday Imam of Ardestan and [Seyed Yousef Tabatabaei-Nejad], the Member of Parliament, and one of the local people delivered welcoming remarks and presented their demands. A father of a martyr read a poem he had composed himself in my praise. I gave them a heartening talk and promised that we would soon bring water from Isfahan to their region via pipeline. I asked the people to cooperate in desertification control. It turned out that most villages, which in the past had been destroyed and evacuated due to sandstorms, have been revived after several years of desertification control implementation. I sent Messrs. Forouzesh and Amini as representatives to Ardestan and Natanz.

We flew toward Nain. We entered Nain at 11:15. A massive and unprecedented gathering was waiting for us; people had come from far distances, even from Khor, Biabanak, and Anarak. We did not expect such a large crowd to be present. Welcoming remarks and the presentation of demands were made by the Friday Imam and the Member of Parliament. The students performed a moving anthem, and I gave a heartening talk and promised to speed up the water transfer and desertification control.

We visited the interesting Nain carpet exhibition next to the gathering. An old artist who is 90 years old and Mr. Habibian, who is the father of the Nain carpet, welcomed us and explained with extreme physical weakness but a good spirit. We had lunch and rest at the governorate and the governor's house. We visited a water cistern that is similar to the cisterns of our own Noug. It is larger than the Noug cisterns. Then we visited a cloak-weaving workshop in Mohammadabad near the city. They have created an underground area like a large cave, and they said they use the underground spaces because it is cool in summer and warm in winter; they had about 8 cloak-weaving looms. I instructed that with my help, they should turn that place into a clean, organized, and bright hall.

We flew toward Jarqavieh. A huge crowd from the Jarqavieh district and nomads had gathered. They welcomed us warmly. They had brought a flock of sheep for sacrifice. The governor of Isfahan and one of the clerics gave welcoming remarks and stated their demands, the most important of which was the rapid implementation of the Mahyar water supply canal from Zayandehrud. In my remarks, which were mostly about the policy of poverty alleviation, I accepted.

We reached Isfahan at dusk. After the Maghrib and Isha prayers, the leaders of the Armenians of Jolfa came. They expressed loyalty and gave a report on the situation of the Armenians. I encouraged them. We went to the telecommunications center. They gave a report on the programs and the development of telecommunications. I encouraged them. The people of the provincial region had a massive gathering around the building.

We went to the veterans' headquarters. I offered comfort and listened to their demands and gave them a consoling and heartening talk; it was a good meeting. They are dissatisfied with the performance of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs. In front of the veterans' center, a newly constructed interesting 90-meter fountain began operating; it is a good piece of work.

Exemplary farmers from all over the country came. [Mr. Isa Kalantari], the Minister of Agriculture, gave a report. I gave them their awards and encouraged them with detailed remarks. I ate dinner alone in my room. We organized tomorrow's plans. I wrote the diaries for yesterday and today. I went to sleep at 11:30 PM.