Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 19, 1983

I wrote down the memories from the past few days. Mr. Ahmad Agha called and strongly objected to the film "The Trial" that had been broadcast last night, considering it deserving of reprimand. I warned the deputy managing director of the Radio and Television organization; it was decided that they would investigate. I called Mr. Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, the Minister of the Interior, and conveyed Mr. Jalal al-Din Taheri's complaint about the appointment of the governor of Isfahan. He said that he was a capable person and that agreement on another individual had not been possible. For more than a year and a half, Mr. Taheri has been at odds with the Ministry of the Interior over the governor. Local disputes have complicated matters, and they have been unable to agree on a person.

I was studying at home. I spoke with Mr. Khamenei by phone about various matters. Engineer Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the Prime Minister, called and said that the Syrians were insisting that I travel to Syria. I said that since Mr. Hafez al-Assad, who had been invited by our President, had not yet come to Iran, it would not be appropriate for me to go. Dr. Velayati called and said that the Syrians were saying that his trip to Syria should be kept completely secret; it was decided that we would agree to keeping the negotiations secret, but not the trip itself. News arrived that Saddam had traveled to Saudi Arabia. These days there are many trips and meetings among the Arab countries; it is not clear what the reason is!