Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – June 6, 1989

I went to the parliament. I spent a lot of time reading reports. All in all, the election of Ayatollah Khamenei has had a positive effect and has given peace to the world and the region, and made the enemies disappointed and the friends happy, and the congratulations and approvals have started and are very wide. The representatives are also preparing a petition of approval.

We had a short meeting for the presidium. Mr. [Abbas] Dozdozani [representative of Tehran and member of the Presidium] came. He had questions about Ayatollah Khamenei's leadership; I justified it. Mr. [Hossein] Kamali [Tehran's representative and head of the Labor and Social Affairs Commission] also came. It was negotiated in this regard. In the evening, the presidents of the parliaments of Algeria and Libya came. It was a ceremonial meeting.

After the prayer, I went to the leader's office. We discussed the country's affairs and future policies for two or three hours. Agreement was reached in many areas. We decided to have a two-person meeting once a week to coordinate leadership and executive policies. It was decided to discuss a measure to procure essential goods in the meeting of the heads of forces. It was decided that tomorrow they will have a farewell meeting at the university [Tehran].

Mr. [Abd al-Majid] Maadikhah came and said that there are elements who oppose the leadership of Mr. Khamenei and intend to introduce it temporarily, so that they may be able to do something later by contacting the members of the Assembly of Experts.

The scene of Ayatollah Golpayegani's prayer over the Imam's body and the people's farewell ceremony with the Imam in the mosque of Tehran was very magnificent and meaningful, and the funeral of the Imam up to the place of burial is rare and perhaps unique in the history of Iran and perhaps the world.

Crowding in the path and place of burial and people's efforts to reach the Imam's coffin created problems, to the extent that the Imam's shroud was torn, and the sight of the Imam's body in this state really made a lasting impression in the media.

They reported that the crowd of people prevented the burial of the imam. They asked me for help. I went over the burial area by helicopter. I ordered the helicopter to land next to the grave. The sound, wind and dust caused by the landing of the helicopter caused people to retreat and a place was opened for the helicopter.

When people saw me, they shouted their condolences. I had a chance to say my last farewell to Imam. Seeing the burial, my face filled with tears. I thanked the people and expressed my condolences to the nation and left the stage with great sadness. Companions said it was like an operation.