Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – June 19, 1995

In the news, the continuation of the hostage crisis in Russia and the surrender of the government, and in domestic news, the matters related to my trip are noteworthy. At seven-thirty in the morning we went to the combine manufacturing and sprinkler irrigation factory, which has been established by a group of Basij members through the method of copying parts in other factories and assembly. It is very interesting. One of the best combines is produced at a cheaper price and with less foreign currency [requirement] than three thousand dollars. After the visit and hearing the report of Mr. Issa Kalantari, the Minister of Agriculture, and Engineer Mokarram, I gave an encouraging speech. They are good initiatives.

We flew to the Animal Disease Control Research Center, beside the village of Yam in the green valley near the city of Marand. On the way, the governor gave explanations about the rich nature of the Tabriz Plain, which will be supplied with water by the construction of a new dam on the Talkheh Rud River. This research center had been intended during the former regime as a ski center beside the ski slope, and today it has been turned by the Construction Jihad into a strong research center for the production of vaccines and pills and their main materials, affiliated with the Razi Serum Institute. Messrs. Forouzesh and Mohammadi gave good explanations and we visited the production line. They said it has the best climate in the country.

From there we flew to the outskirts of Marand. The operation of the small Shahid [Musa] Kalantari Dam began with the explanations of the agriculture officials. It has a capacity of nine million cubic meters that collects seasonal floodwaters and covers two thousand hectares with the sprinkler irrigation method. Its contractor is the IRGC's Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters.

We flew to the city of Marand. The people expected there to be a popular welcome in the streets and a large number had gathered along the possible route, and at the same time there was a huge gathering at the site prepared for the Mosalla. Mr. Reza Mohammadivand, the Friday prayer leader, gave a welcome speech despite his heart ailment, and the governor gave a report on the situation of progress and services. They did not let Mr. Ebrahim Sarraf, the city's representative, speak. Because of him, it was arranged that the other representatives would not speak either; contrary to the usual practice of other trips where everywhere the representatives gave welcome speeches, on this trip the governors speak, and therefore it is usually a report of the work done, and the Friday prayer leaders usually praise the revolution and me. I too gave a detailed speech.

We immediately flew toward Shabestar. I sent Mr. Hamid Mirzadeh and Mr. Issa Kalantari to start the operation of the water intake project from the Aras River in the Jolfa region for seven thousand hectares of land. On the way, Mr. Ali Abdolalizadeh, the governor, gave information. His information is good and he has mastery over the province's affairs. In Shabestar too the people's gathering was beyond expectations and they said many more had come from the surroundings than during the trips of past officials. The Friday prayer leader and the governor gave a good report and I too spoke warmly and hopefully. The feature here is that the Shabestari emigrants to Tehran and Turkey and other places bring money to the county and invest, and it is better than other places. They only have the problem of water shortage that must be connected from West Azerbaijan; I promised speed of action. Mr. Shabestari, the Friday prayer leader of Tabriz, is also from here and was with us and gave good explanations. A girl had a good recitation and they sang a good anthem.

Then by car we went to the small city of Khameneh, located one farsakh from Shabestar, for the inauguration of the urban gas supply. According to the arrangement, most of the people of Khameneh had gone to the gathering of the city of Shabestar, and here, to avoid the impression of discrimination because of the Leader who is from here, we had not planned a popular program, but some had gathered. After hearing the report of the CEO of the Gas Company, I gave a short speech about the importance of gas supply and lit the torch. We visited Sharafkhaneh Port by helicopter; due to the people's use of the Shahid Kalantari road, it is without prosperity. At three-thirty in the afternoon we reached Tabriz.

After lunch and rest and prayer and studying the news, we went for the inauguration of the [Tabriz] tile factory that the private sector has built with a capacity of one and a half million square meters of tile production per year. Hearing the report and visiting the production line were carried out. Then we went for the inauguration of the Chaprang factory that the private sector has built and is mostly for export. They have obtained the machinery from India; both factories are interesting.

We went to see the large industrial exhibition of Tabriz. They have built a good exhibition; after Tehran, it ranks second in Iran. About 240 industrial and agricultural units have participated in the exhibition. In the gathering of those present, Mr. Ali Abdolalizadeh, the governor, gave a good report. It was also drizzling rain. I too gave a short speech about the importance of export and production and emphasized the continuation of the foreign exchange policy. Then we visited the booths for several hours. It was interesting and beyond my expectations. I became very tired. It lasted until eleven at night. They too were grateful. It is strange that they were satisfied and did not raise any problem. They mainly have exports. The export of dried fruits, food and processing industries has found good scope. We returned to the governorate. On the way, the vast gathering of the people over several kilometers, to express affection at that time of night, seemed very strange to me.

The representative of Sultan Qaboos, [the King of Oman], came along with my brother Mohammad, [the Deputy Foreign Minister], to convey the Sultan's message. In a private meeting he said that one of Iran's diplomats, with a group, intends to assassinate one of the foreign officials; I said to summon him. And he said that the Sultan wishes, in the upcoming period of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council whose presidency is his, to move toward removing the estrangement between Iran and the Emirates, and they had asked for my help. I gave suggestions. It was arranged that Mohammad, my brother, would be the special representative for relations. The negotiations became long, nearly an hour. I slept at one in the morning. Effat and the companions had gone to other areas.