Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 8, 1986

I arrived at the parliament around nine o'clock in the morning. Dr. [Hasan] Rouhani came and gave a report on the work of the Artillery Division Commission. Mr. [Mustafa] Mirsalim came and gave a report on the situation of the Supreme Assembly [Islamic Revolution] of Iraq and the new elections. Then the members of the Majlis [Supreme] - who are about seventy people - came. Mr. Naseri spoke and I also gave a speech.

Mr. [Qurban Ali] came to [Najafabadi] door. He gave a report on the next year's budget and consulted on deficits and important matters. Mr. Rahnama and Iftikhar Jahormi called and discussed the quality of dealing with taking money that is said to be in one of the Swiss banks named [Mohammedreza] Shah and Nasiri Mudum - about 460 million dollars. Friday imam and clerics came. They were satisfied with the condition of the city and villages and complained about the person in charge of Islamic propaganda.

In the evening, the chairman of the parliament had a meeting. At night, we were the guests of Ayatollah [Mousavi] Ardabili. There was a discussion about the French hostages in Lebanon and Mr. [Ayatollah] Khamenei's trip and the return of the money left in the Swiss bank from the leaders of the previous regime and taking a loan of ten billion tomans from the banks for the war, with the order of the Imam and without the permission of the Majlis - which the Imam had assigned according to the majority of the leaders. It was decided to act by approving the expenses.

Akhvi Mahmoud from Syria told Hafez Assad's message on the phone about helping to free the French hostages. I said that if the French release a Lebanese prisoner as a gesture of goodwill, we will act as help.

A letter was signed by 300 prisoners of Tabriz Prison, requesting permission to go to the front and make amends for their past deeds. We must consult.