Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 25, 1989

I did office work until nine o'clock in the morning. A group of heads of national and Islamic groups in Lebanon and Palestine came to congratulate the president and ask for more help. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested to bring the heads of six Lebanese groups to Iran. The two groups [Movement] Amal and [Walid] Jumblatt did not mention Syria, and they and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are the same, but the matter is not significant.

[Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Singh] came to represent Mr. Rajiv Gandhi [Prime Minister of India]. He brought his message that he wants to develop relations [Tehran-New Delhi]; I also confirmed. [Sheikh Faisal bin Khalid al-Qasimi], the representative of Sheikh Sultan [the ruler of Sharjah] came. He brought the Sheikh's letter and asked for the relief of the Arab residents of Abu Musa Island and the development of trade relations; I promised Mr. [Alireza] Mahjoub came from Kargar's house and consulted to participate in the mid-term elections in Tehran; I confirmed.

[Mr. Gholamreza Faruzesh] Minister of Jihad [Construction] came with the managers of the fisheries department. They gave a complete report on the status of fishing and future plans and needs. In the afternoon, Mr. Siddhadi Khamenei came. As usual, he complained about Astan Quds and Mr. [Waez] Tabasi and their brother Ayatollah Khamenei in the Mashhad issues and demanded that Mr. Ali Jannati [son of Ayatollah Ahmed Jannati] become the governor of Khorasan instead of Mr. [Amir] Abedini.

In the evening, the Economic Council had a meeting. It was the first council meeting in my government. Mr. [Masoud Roghani] Zanjani [Head of the Program and Budget Organization] explained about the authority and duties of the Council; It is too much. Important issues to be discussed in the Council were listed. After several cases of leaving the tender procedures, the plans were in order. I went home after doing office work.