Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – October 23, 1982

I was at home until three in the afternoon. Mrs. Fatemeh warmed up the leftover food from last night for lunch. The guards also gave us some of their own food, which they had brought from the IRGC. Ahmad Agha came and informed us of the Imam's agreement to meet with representatives of Lebanon's Islamic groups, and we discussed the conditions for peace with Iraq. The Imam has said that we will not make peace with Saddam, but under certain conditions we will accept a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. I spoke by telephone with the President, and it became clear that [Ahmad] Sokotoure, who was supposed to come, had not come himself, and instead the foreign ministers of several mediating countries had come and brought a message. It was decided that after reviewing the message, we would consult on the matter of the response.

At three-thirty I went to the Majlis; I took care of administrative matters and had some meetings. A group of representatives had invited military commanders to the Majlis to discuss their opposition to peace. In the Majlis, some say that we should continue the war until Saddam falls and an Islamic government is established in Iraq.

Early in the evening, we had a meeting with the country's principal officials at the President's office. We discussed high prices and shortages of consumer goods and distribution profits. The Prime Minister explained the remedies they had considered, and it was decided that after resolving the foreign-currency problem—which has been resolved to some extent—and securing purchasing and port facilities, we would import and distribute essential goods in the necessary quantities. We also discussed the cabinet, and it was decided that Mr. [Mohammad] Khatami would become Minister of Guidance. Late at night I went to the Majlis to sleep.