Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 6, 1983

I went to my office early in the morning. I read the reports. Mr. Khamenei called. He informed me that, following consultation with Imam, he had canceled his trip to India. We consulted about announcing the reason for the cancellation. We decided to hold a meeting before noon.

In the public session, a number of representatives were angry about Mr. [Ahmad] Azari Qomi's remarks on Friday and wanted to react, but I stopped them. Only Mr. [Seyed Mohammad] Kiavash [the Ahvaz representative] warned him in his pre-agenda speech for sowing division. We passed several bills. During the recess, I spoke to the spectators and criticized the Americans for arresting the imam of the Washington mosque on charges of supporting the Iranian [Islamic] Revolution.

At eleven o'clock, I went to the President's office. Mr. [Mir-Hossein Mousavi], the Prime Minister, was also there. It was decided that, instead of the President, the Prime Minister would attend [the Non-Aligned summit], and the composition of the accompanying delegation would also be changed.

At noon, I had several meetings in my office. In the afternoon, a group of party members from the provincial branches came. I gave a speech to them, and they gave their reports. Members of the Revolutionary Committee came. They were proposing amendments to the regulations. We attended the meeting of the party's Central Council. Most of the discussion was about how to respond to Mr. [Ahmad] Azari Qomi's remarks, and we preferred to remain silent and preserve our friendship. I did not end up attending the gathering at Mr. Mousavi Ardebili's house, where a number of teachers from the Qom Seminary were present to discuss current issues. I was tired, and my istikhara did not approve.