Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 3, 1983

Mr. Akhavi, Mohammad and Qasemzadeh from IRIB, and Vaezi from the Revolutionary Guards came. They consulted about the line of propaganda, regarding the Tudeh Party, the Soviet Union, and communism. I said, we do not intend to disrupt our relations with the Soviet Union, and it is not in our interest; especially during the war. We must separate domestic affairs from them. They said the Soviets are engaged in propaganda against us. It was decided that we would continue in the same manner and also broadcast new interviews with Tudeh members.

Near noon, I went to visit the Imam. I thanked him for appointing the [new] members of the Guardian Council. We also talked about the war and the situation in Isfahan, the clerics, and the Revolutionary Guards. The Imam brought up Saddam's statements at the clerics' iftar gathering, in which he had claimed leadership of the Arabs, and considered them noteworthy and useful for propaganda. He is in good health. During Ramadan, meetings are suspended; except unofficial ones. He said that Ayatollah Golpayegani had written him a letter and objected to the Supreme Judicial Council's circular concerning the prohibition on evicting tenants from rented houses. He had instructed Mr. [Musavi] Ardebili [Chief Justice of the Supreme Court] to reply to him, and he himself had also given a brief reply.