Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 26, 1981

Because of the lack of sleep the previous night, I slept until eight-thirty after the morning prayer. We had a public session. The bill on real estate transactions was left in abeyance because of the budget. The budget debate is open-ended. It provides a platform for opponents of the government to pursue their political objections. Mr. Golzadeh-Ghafouri spoke harshly and, at the end, concluded by portraying himself as the victim.

They want to weaken both the Parliament and the government.

At noon, the Cabinet was our guest at the Parliament. It is a good means of resolving the representatives’ problems concerning matters referred to them by the people. A number of Sunni clerics from Turkmen Dasht were also there, requesting permission for Sunni seminarians to teach in their own schools. They wanted us to employ them under the title of diploma holders. At night, I spoke with Mr. Bahonar and Mr. Rajaei, and we came up with a solution: an examination, followed by a period of apprenticeship, and then awarding them diplomas and employing them.

In the afternoon, I gave an interview to the Kayhan newspaper on the occasion of the anniversary of the opening of the Parliament. Then Dr. [Abdollah] Jassbi came and complained about the ambiguity surrounding his responsibilities and authority in his position as the government’s economic adviser. At night, I spoke with Mr. Rajaei, but he was unable to provide an explanation either. His work overlaps with the Plan and Budget Organization, the State Organization for Administrative and Employment Affairs, and many other ministries.

At night, at the Prime Minister’s Office, we held a consultation meeting with Messrs. Rajaei, Khamenei, Bahonar, [Behzad] Nabavi, and my brother Mohammad. We made decisions on many issues. It was decided that we should pursue a friendly but orderly and disciplined policy toward Libya.