Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 13, 1982

Due to the public holiday, I stayed at home. After the noon prayer, I went to Ahmad Agha's house. With the President present, we discussed the future of the war, which will soon heat up.

In the evening, I was alone at home. I read the reports: the affairs of the Ministry of Oil, the situation of factions in factories, etc. With the help of the IRGC members, we made grilled chicken and had iftar together.

During iftar, Mr. Kamal Kharazi called from Ahvaz and informed me in code that tonight the operation to enter Iraqi territory would begin, and consulted about how to handle the publicity for it. He is the head of the War Propaganda Headquarters.

Dr. Velayati, who was leaving for Cyprus to attend the Non-Aligned Conference regarding Israel's aggression against Lebanon, also called for consultation, and it was decided that he would not participate in the Islamic countries' foreign ministers' conference in Tunis due to Tunisia's negative positions. At night, Mr. [Abdolmajid] Moadikhah came. He has decided to resign from the Ministry of Islamic Guidance and consulted about how to announce his resignation. Around midnight, the children came and kept me from sleeping. We woke up late for the pre-dawn meal and ate hastily.

After the morning call to prayer, the announcements of the IRGC and the Army regarding Operation Ramadan and entering Iraqi territory and breaking the enemy's first defense line were read. This is an important phase of the war, and we must await its results.

Last night, the UN Security Council issued a resolution calling for a ceasefire. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister have rejected it, saying they will not accept it before securing our rights. The United States has also threatened with insinuation and warned us against entering Iraqi territory—due to the endangerment of its vital interests.