Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – June 4, 1988

I listened to foreign radios. The news of my selection to replace the Commander-in-Chief is at the top of the news and has various interpretations. The attack on Saddam's residence is interpreted as my first military action and the Iraqis have made a lot of noise in this regard and claim that the bombs did not hit the building and no one was hurt.

I went to Mr. Khamenei's office at half past seven in the morning. I consulted with him about the new responsibility measures. When I arrived, they were studying English. I went to the parliament and after reading reports and doing administrative work, I dealt with war affairs. Mr. Shamkhani informed that the enemy was ambushed and defeated last night in Shah Shemiran region and there is a possibility of a deep attack there. I emphasized that it should be preserved.

I told my office to cancel various meetings so that I can get to the work of preparing the armed forces. Timsar Sayad [Shirazi] came. The operation command plan for Mohsen Rezaei and his successor was discussed. I had several phone conversations with Mr. Rezaei, who is on the front, about the headquarters and the work plan and operations.

Mr. Mohsen Rafiq Dost [Minister of IRGC] came. Five billion tomans were allowed for war expenses. In the evening, Mr. Alireza Afshar, the spokesman of the IRGC, came. He got permission to hand over the old testing factory to IRGC Industries to manufacture military equipment, including missiles. Mohsen had already talked about this. The plan of the new headquarters was discussed.

Mr. Ray Shahri [Minister of Information], requested by phone that the work of the Ministry of Information be placed under the command of the General Command; I did not accept, because it is not related and increases the problems of the work.

Dr. Velayati came. Reported his trip to New York and Germany. [West German Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich [Ganscher] asked us to help free the German hostages in Lebanon. He asked them to promise Hammadi's release - that Hammadi's friends have taken the Germans hostage to save him. He is satisfied with the negotiations with the Secretary General. Regarding the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he consulted with regard to the composition of the parliament and made the acceptance of the position conditional on having full support for foreign policy. I said that it is still too early to comment on the number of votes against and in favor; His opponents are many in the parliament.

Dr. Rouhani gave the result of the negotiation with the desired people for the members of the General Staff. We have many problems because of the differences between the IRGC and the army. The soldiers are worried about Mohsen Rezaei in the headquarters as the head of operations and they have not yet reached a conclusion about the location of the headquarters.

[Brigadier Shahbazi [Chief of Army Staff] informed that the commander of Nazaja] = Army Ground Force] refused to accept the people wanted by the headquarters to make Nazaja more active and asked for permission to be tough.

The meeting of the heads of forces was held in Mr. Khamenei's office. Mr. Ray Shahri had come to seek permission for some actions that were not approved. The foreign policy adjustment process was discussed. It was agreed that Mr. Velayati should be approved for this. We were supposed to be more careful about the counter-revolutionary movements that have been showing insolence lately. I mentioned the problems of the administration of the army and the IRGC due to conflicts.

I came home late. Fati, who had gone to Mohsen's house due to loneliness, returned home and said that he had talked to his mother in Mashhad on the phone and that they were fine and happy.