Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – October 15, 1983

I was at home all day. We were supposed to have a meeting of the Supreme Economic Council in the afternoon to discuss the causes of inflation, but the meeting had been canceled. I asked the President by telephone why. They said it had been canceled because of mourning. Mr. Prime Minister called and consulted me about the new Minister of Mines and Metals. The Industries Commission had given its opinion by proposing several names and ranking each one. I said, agree with the President on one of those same names.

I spent most of the time studying and revising the party's positions. They brought the reports from Parliament. I read them; there is nothing important in them, except for the statement by the Soviet representative at the United Nations opposing American intervention in the Persian Gulf on the pretext of keeping the shipping route open. If it is serious, it is important. At night, the Prime Minister's office informed me that Grand Ayatollah Najafi [Marashi] in Qom had told the police to allow qameh-zani to take place. They asked for my opinion, and I sought guidance from Imam's household. Ahmad Aqa said that Imam had prohibited it last year, but this year he would not intervene. They did not consider it advisable to take a position against Mr. Najafi [Marashi]. I myself, in view of last year's prohibition and on my own responsibility, told the Prime Minister's office that it should be prevented. At night, Effat had guests. The children had eaten dinner outside.