Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 19, 1991

I reached my office at half past seven. I prepared the contents of the New Year message. At half past nine in the morning, the Nowruz message [to be broadcast on radio and television during the New Year] was recorded. Mr. [Jalil] Basharti, the head of the deprived areas office, came. He gave a performance report and consulted for the affairs of the year 70.

They came for an interview from the German magazine Spiegel. They had many questions; I answered everyone; Of course, compact and short. In the evening, the Supreme National Security Council had a meeting. How to support Iraqi Muslims, relations with Saudi Arabia, Hajj and how to cooperate with the "Persian Gulf Cooperation Council" were on the agenda. It was decided [in Iraq] that the aid would be without the intervention of Iranian manpower. Hajj should be performed and the way of cooperation with the Council should be discussed in the Secretariat [Supreme National Security Council] for the proposal in the Council. Members of the Supreme National Security Council were my guests iftar.

Mr. [Ali Mohammad] Basharti from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came and brought the aid that the Iranians had sent from London to the earthquake victims and announced that the Kuwaitis wanted us to help them rebuild and sell them food. The Minister of Oil said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed that the oil delegation from Iraq has asked for permission to come to Iran. I said there is no problem.

I came home at night. In the reports, the escalation of conflicts in Iraq, the capture of Kirkuk by the Kurds and Saddam's more violent actions in the south attract attention.