Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – June 14, 1988

After prayer until 7:30 in the morning, I read news reports and listened to American and British radio. They are trying to present the result of Jerusalem 7 operation as Iraq's victory in defeating Iran's invasion and end it in the name of Saddam who was present in the region.

Mr. Astana came forward from the camp. He gave a report that had no new information. I told Mr. [Alireza [Afshar and Akhvi Mohammad], the head of the Broadcasting Organization [and] Mr. Mohammad Ali Rahmani [the head of the Basij, to have extensive propaganda for sending the Basij in July. I emphasized to Mr. Behzad Nabavi [Minister of Heavy Industries] about the speed in the production of ammunition from the factories of the Ministry of [Heavy Industries]. We discussed with Dr. Rouhani about the current situation and the plans for the war. Before noon, I had an interview with TV about the [Beit al-Maqdis 7] operation.

In the evening until the end of the night, I negotiated with the commanders of the units operating in the Beit al-Maqdis 7 operation. I accepted each of them separately. I asked for the description of the operation and their opinion and gave them the space to say whatever they want.

All of them were satisfied with the principle of the operation and they all claimed that it strengthened the morale of the fighters and said that if there was enough force, we could have stayed and gone further and most of them were dissatisfied with the performance of the Karbala camp. They said that he did not have the power to manage and coordinate.

At the end of the night with Mr. Mohsen Rezaei, we evaluated the negotiation and operations of Beit al-Maqdis 7. It was thought that if there was enough force, we could achieve a major victory. Mr. Rezaei requested that Mr. Shamkhani should be in the General Staff instead of him, and that we should not issue the command of the responsibility of the front commander, and that he should participate in the war in the same way as he is currently.

The officials of construction jihad came and gave the report of the seminar and expressed their readiness to obey the command in any way they decide. I said that we are going to make Mr. [Gholamreza] Frouzesh the deputy of engineering in the General Staff.

The news came that today the enemy has taken back the heights of Kochar and Sheikh Mohammad. We planned to go to the northwest front to check their work. I told the Construction Jihad to cooperate to complete the defense lines in Halabja.