Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 16, 1991

I woke up around six in the morning. After the prayer, I got the news. The uprising of the people in Iraq is developing and the American forces have been active in Iraq today. Apparently, it is to scare Saddam from putting more pressure on the people. Saddam treats people very cruelly. About an hour was spent writing memories.

At half past seven, we went to the Iran-Japan Petrochemical Complex. For about three hours, the managers gave explanations about the whole plan, reconstruction program, costs, incomes and products and answered my questions; I encouraged them and gave them a certificate of appreciation and emphasized on handing over other projects to the internal forces. The first phase has been rebuilt by internal forces, which is surprising. I visited different departments by car and responded to the feelings of the employees. I had a long interview about the results of the trip.

Then I visited Bandar-e-Imam dam and docks and talked to some workers and drivers about their work. At one o'clock, we went to Omidiye base with helicopters. The commander of the base announced that the Chinese F-7 warplanes that we have recently captured have been put into operation at the base and he requested for the construction of the base.

We moved to Tehran with our companions. We arrived in Tehran at three in the afternoon. I went to my office. After the prayer, I took a short rest. I participated in the meeting of the Supreme National Security Council. The investigation of the latest situation of the Iraq crisis was in order. The policy adopted in the previous meeting was approved. In the press release of the meeting, I gave an answer to Saddam's claim regarding Iran's support for the uprising of the Iraqi people.

I worked in my office until eight o'clock in the evening and came home. Mr. [Mohsen] Rezaei informed that forces have gone to hit the base of the hypocrites in Iraq.