Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 8, 1992

Mr. [Youssef bin] Alavi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman, came with Dr. Velayati. He suggested reforming relations with Egypt, Algeria, and the United States and cooperating to help Islamic republics separated from the Soviet Union. In the case of Algeria and Egypt, I expressed my readiness, and in the case of the United States, I said that, first of all, the United States should release Iran's property.

I also sent a message to the governors of the southern Persian Gulf to cooperate in raising the price of oil.

Mr. [Mohammed Hossein] Rezaei, the head [of the organization] of Hajj [and pilgrimage] came. He reported performing Umrah. This year's Umrah work has been completed and done well, and lately, the currency has been floating. He said that 115 thousand people have been agreed for the upcoming Hajj.

Dr. [Mohammad Hossein] Adeli, [Chairman of the Central Bank] came and gave a report on his trip to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and told the decisions of Motahadeh. Turkmenistan's situation is not good; Uzbekistan is better. We are supposed to have a bank branch there and give them fifty million dollars [export] credit. Also, they should open the Qara Baghaz [Gulf] which has been closed and caused the Caspian water to rise.

Mr. [Hadi] Nejad Hosseinian, [Minister of Heavy Industries] came. He gave a report on the situation of the automobile industry and demanded more support for the domestic industry against car imports. It was decided to agree to the entry of some of the Korean cars bought by Tehran Municipality.

In the evening, I attended the meeting of the government. I was a guest of Ayatollah Khamenei at the Iftar. We had a discussion about sending medicine to Azerbaijan and Armenia and general issues of the country. This year they are fasting; Because of the operation of the gallbladder, their condition is more favorable. In previous years, they could not fast.