Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 24, 1984

I went to the parliament at seven in the morning, but I did not participate in the public meeting; Because I was a little bored. I studied reports and administrative work. Mr. Gharehi [Oil Minister] informed that last night, the Iraqis attacked an oil tanker in the internal ports [of Iran]. I talked with Mr. President about reciprocating.

Mr. Natiq Nouri [Minister of the Interior] also came and reported and consulted about the elections and the opening of the new parliament, the installation of new governors and border issues.

At half past eleven, Mr. Abdul Halim Khaddam, deputy of Hafez Assad and Farooq Al-Shora, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria, came; We talked with them about the Persian Gulf crisis. In many cases, including the necessity of Saddam's downfall and disrupting the enemy's conspiracy to deprive us of [exporting] oil, not allowing Iraq to use the Persian Gulf, and trying to distance Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from Saddam, we were united in opinion. It was decided that they will move on this political line and we will continue on our way. I suggested that [by the Syrian government] pressure should be applied to Iraq from the western borders.

At noon, Colonel [Abbas] Babayi from the Air Force [Army] came; He spoke about the inefficiency of the commander of the naval force and the need for more movement of the naval and air forces, and complained about the policy of not paying attention to the Hezbollah in the air force.

In the evening, I had a meeting with [Mr. Mohammad Haroon] the Minister of Interior of Pakistan. He spoke more about the Persian Gulf and the need to end the war and the Islamic nature of the Pakistani regime, and I also explained our points of view.

Two or three of the children of the Islamic Republic Party came and complained about the party's conservative behavior. I advised the unity of the word. Mr. [Siddhadi] Khosrowshahi, our ambassador, came to the Vatican and told what he had done.

In the evening, I had a long press and radio-television interview; On the occasion of the end of the first term of the Majlis [Islamic Council], I answered the questions of domestic and foreign journalists. At night, Mr. Prime Minister called and told the news of the incident of seeing an English ship in the Persian Gulf - with an invisible arrow; He was a little worried about this issue.