Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 27, 1985

We went to Mehrabad airport at half past seven in the morning. With a group of representatives and ministers, we went to Khark Island with two Falcon jets. Shortly after the flight, our carrier plane had a problem. We returned and changed the plane. We arrived half an hour late at half past nine. We visited Tank Farm and T, Gurd and Azarpad docks. In T and Azarpad wharves, two targets were accurately bombed by the Iraqis. The reason for the accuracy of targeting is the full prior information and the extreme weakness of our defense and the losses are high. The officials of Khark Island's oil [terminals] said that if the defense is done properly, with the current situation, we can export up to four million barrels of oil per day, but there is no confidence in the defense.

We had a long meeting with military officials. We provided all their needs. Red status was declared once or twice. I put Mr. [Rasul] Mutjabnia there as my representative, and it was agreed that the IRGC forces would cooperate. We participated in the Friday prayer and I spoke for the audience. Except for the military and oil and government officials, no one is left in Khark. families have been taken out and this has created a problem; Because many of them do not have proper shelter and housing, and this issue causes anxiety among the employees.

In the middle of the way back and forth, Mr. [Mohammed] Gharehi and Tolai explained about the program of establishing SBM wharves for oil export - which is one of the most advanced and simplest methods of loading. Seven SBM berths are to be built around Khark Island and Bandar Gnaveh. It was decided to build the Gore Kangan pipeline as well. These things should have been done earlier. We reached Tehran in the west.

At night, Iraq attacked Khark. They probably couldn't attack during the day because of the heavy protection - because of our presence - and that's because if they are protected properly, they won't be attacked.