Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 20, 1983

Early in the morning, after prayer, I thought for a while about the problems that differences among the various lines and currents are creating for the Revolution and unity, and I sketched out solutions in my mind and wrote them down so that I could take action through various channels later. Then I wrote two or three days of the backlogged memoirs. I put my library, which had become somewhat disorganized, in order. Friday prayers were led by [Ayatollah] Mr. Khamenei.

Before noon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed me by telephone that the Soviet Union had taken a step back. Yesterday in Moscow, they had notified our embassy that three members of our embassy were to leave the Soviet Union as undesirable elements. In Tehran, the Foreign Ministry had summoned the Soviet ambassador yesterday and told them that we too know of undesirable persons in your embassy, and if you insist, we will likewise expel them. The ambassador had asked for one day's time, and today they informed us that they would not make the announcement. I told the Foreign Ministry, you should also say that we will expel them too and will not make an announcement.

Last night, Mohammad Akhavi said that the Foreign Ministry had asked us to publish something against the Soviet Union. I objected; I said they should wait, let us consult, and today Dr. Velayati said that this had been done without his knowledge. In the afternoon, Mr. [Abdolmajid] Maadi-Khah came and we talked about traveling to London and possibly staying there; I told him to go as a trip. Then Ahmad Aqa came, and we talked about the issues in Isfahan and the Islamic Republic Party and the opposition to it, as well as several other matters. At night, Hajieh Valedeh came to our house; she is unwell. We called a doctor for her.