Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 12, 1983

At my suggestion, [Ayatollah] Khamenei led the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the site of the new large prayer ground. We intend to allocate the former Abbasabad barracks site, along with the surrounding lands, which amount to about one million meters, to the prayer ground. Several billion tomans will be needed for the construction of the prayer ground and its surrounding facilities. It was decided that the Imam would provide some funds so that we could open an account and ask the people for contributions. We went to visit the Imam with a large group of civilian and military officials; the Imam delivered a mystical-ethical speech. I stayed at the Imam's office until nearly noon. I came home at noon. In the afternoon, after sleeping, I swam a little in the pool. I also did some reading. Relatives came to visit as well. I wrote several days' worth of backlogged diary entries.

At night, Dr. Velayati came and examined Fati's child. We discussed Syria's request for assistance from Iran in locating an American hostage in Lebanon. They say an American named "Dodge" has been taken hostage. It was decided that if they help us locate the four Iranian diplomats—who were abducted in Lebanon and are said to have been kidnapped by the Phalange and handed over to Iraq or Israel—we would help them as well. Abu Nidal's group's request to come to Iran and negotiate with us was also discussed; we did not deem it advisable. He gave a report on decisions concerning the liberation movements—legal and legitimate—that are to receive assistance under the supervision of the Foreign Ministry.