Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 11, 1985

After prayer, I worked in my office until half past seven in the morning. In the public session of the parliament, the bill for the establishment of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, which merges medical schools with the Ministry of Health, was discussed. The debates were serious and fierce and the opponents had argued, but it was approved by a strong majority. This bill was approved in the first term of the parliament, but it became ineffective due to the problems of the Guardian Council and the extradition of the Minister of Health who was against it. I worked until noon and got tired.

In the afternoon, Mr. President informed that the imam has ordered the operation [Qader in the area] of Saidkan to be stopped until the defense of the cities and they came to my office. We negotiated together. We informed Mr. Sayad Shirazi that the operation will not start until the second order and we decided to negotiate with the imam.

We went to the late Rabbani Amlashi's house for lunch with Mr. [Ayatollah] Khamenei, and there were also a group of their representatives and relatives, and then I returned to my office. [Mr. Abedi Jafari] Minister of Commerce came with Mr. Safari - who has initiatives in the manufacture of weapons. I heard their words and claims; They are busy.

In the evening, the Minister of Education and his deputies came and told the plans and needs for building new schools. We have many needs in this sector. Mr. [Mohsen] Rezaei informed from the front that the Qods 3 operation was carried out last night, we inflicted many casualties on the enemy and took fifty prisoners.

The defeat of the aggressor army of Baath in Iraq is a reason to be happy, but one cannot be happy about the casualties of the weak members of the army. Most of them are ordinary people and forced to serve.

Mr. [Hadi] Khosrowshahi came. His mission in the Vatican is over. He gave the report of his publishing successes, four magazines are published in Europe and asked for help for his new work. [Mr. Akhundzadeh] our ambassador came to Bangladesh. He reported their poverty and need and offered help and said that General Ershad has defeated his opponents at this stage and is dominant.

Dr. Velayati came with a group and gave a report on the signing of the missile purchase agreement from [Cuba and Brazil] and Fidel Castro's friendly statements and his agreement to the withdrawal of the Soviet Union from Afghanistan on the condition of fighting against the entry of the United States. Two people have come from Libya to follow the decisions made during my trip there.

At night, after coming home, I went to Imam's service to negotiate about the war. Imam's condition is very good. I said that it is not possible to fully provide the air security of the cities due to the enemy's long-range missiles. Imam agreed to carry out the operation. I informed Sayad Shirazi and Mr. [Ayatollah] Khamenei.