Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 9, 1988

I went to the parliament. Yaser also came to the front to arrange the deployment schedule. He wants to leave early. Although two of my bodyguards will go to the front in a week, our other bodyguard, Mr. Rahmani, will leave earlier. They want to go together, to get to the operation.

I read the reports until nine o'clock. Mr. Abutalebi, our new ambassador in Italy, came to say goodbye and consult. I told him to try to improve relations with Italy, we have a lot to do.

[Dr. Al-Mahdi Ambiresh [Secretary of the People's Office of Libya, their new ambassador came. The development of relations was discussed. It seems that he is more positive than their previous agent. [Mr. Volken Ural] [The ambassador of Türkiye came. He talked about the development of relations and issues of war and our relationship with other neighbors and heard answers. Our relations with Türkiye are good. I sent a message to Mr. Turgut Özal, the Prime Minister of Türkiye, to release the detained guards as soon as possible. They have been arrested on their way to Iraq, while passing through Turkey, and there are about a hundred of them. [Mr. Tanveer Ahmad Khan] The ambassador of Pakistan came. He emphasized a lot on good relations. He expressed concern about India's aggressive intentions. I stressed about the security of Baluchistan region with the joint efforts of Iran and Pakistan and I asked the reason for the lack of proper response from Pakistan to the numerous and repeated aggressions of Afghanistan to Pakistan, which did not have a correct answer. I thanked Zia al-Haq for the gifts he sent mangoes and rice and asked them to send him a carton of Rafsanjan pistachios.

In the evening, Dr. Abbas Ali Zali, Minister of Agriculture came. He talked about agricultural development plans and areas of private sector mobility, and lamented the lack of credits and facilities. [Dr. Alireza Marandi] Minister of Health and Medicine and his deputies came. He said about the high expenses of the ministry and little credit and currency and the financial needs for the new responsibility of relief and treatment of the war wounded and asked for help from the war credit.

It was the night of the meeting of the heads of forces in the parliament. Ayatollah Khamenei did not participate. Imam's answer was discussed. The opinion was that it is good for the imam to compensate. Ahmad Agha informed that Mr. Khamenei is going to visit the Imam tomorrow. The war and other issues were also discussed. I arrived home late.