Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 26, 1987

American radio reported that last night by the order of US Defense Minister [Gaspar] Weinberger, our ship "Iran Ajr" was blown up and sunk as a warning to Iran. This is a show of provocation and power, and maybe it is because of the defeat they suffered in the Security Council and they could not approve the resolution of arms embargo against Iran. Apparently, the Soviet Union, China and France are against it.

I told Ayatollah Khamenei to complain to the Hague Court and the Security Council. I told Mr. [Sidkamal] Kharazi [Chief of the War Propaganda Staff] to announce that the United States has taken this action to destroy the traces of the crime - a cargo ship and a civilian - and that this action is provocative and will be retaliated. I gave a suggestion to Mr. Mohsen Rezaei about the completion of the "Persian Gulf" operation. I told Mr. Abdullah Nouri to take care of the needs of the IRGC.

In the evening, Mr. [Mohammed] Abai [the head of Qom's Islamic Propaganda Office] along with some students of Qom who are working on the "key to the Quran" project, came to consult on the continuation of the work. They brought new proposals and took away some of the prepared binders. At the same time, they also said about the political ideological weakness of the army.

Today, Iraq has continued the evil of airstrikes and shipping, which was ordered to retaliate. In the evening, two of my bodyguards, who were going to the front, came and said goodbye. Chastity cried and I was also affected. They have wives and children.

They brought the reports, I read them. The United States, which has failed to impose sanctions on Iran, has asked the UN Secretary General to continue efforts to sanction [Iran's weapons].