Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani – April 5, 2003

Iraq announced that it has kicked out the Americans from the Baghdad airport and surrounded them, killed a large number of people and destroyed many tanks;  But the Americans say that they are still in a part of the airport and they also claim that their forces have entered Baghdad, which Iraq denies.  Journalists also say that there is no trace of the American presence in Baghdad.  Clashes have become more intense in Basra.  Three parts of the city of Karbala were also bombed and this is the reason for the inaccuracy of its occupation that they claimed two or three days ago.  Bombing continues on Kirkuk and Mosul. 

Mr. [Mehdi] Safari, the special representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Central Asia and the Caucasus, came.  He reported on his trip to Turkmenistan and asked questions about war issues.  Explained yesterday's Friday sermon.  Mr. [Mustafa] Moazenzadeh, [Ahmed] Aghaei and [Jaafar] Sarqini, deputy ministers of industries, came.  They gave a report about the performance of the ministry and about their differences with the foundation and support for the disabled.  Regarding the stone mine that was entrusted to them, they have complaints from the judiciary.

Mr. [Abd al-Majid] Maadikhah, [the head of the Revolutionary History Foundation] came.  He criticized for making excuses about the building of the History Foundation.  He brought a sample of theses [dissertation] of history students of Islamic Azad University about the history of the revolution and said that they do not fulfill the goals of the foundation and demanded to be allowed to interfere in the approval of the license. 

In the evening, Mr. [Mohammed Taqi] Kashaninia came from Shahid Beheshti University and explained the plans he has given regarding vocational training, municipal services, check law, etc.  Mr. Mohsen Rezaei, [Secretary of the Expediency Analysis Council] came.  He provided analyzes about the Iraq war. 

At night, Mr. [Ahmed] Haqtalab, [Commander of Ansar al-Mahdi Protection Corps] came.  According to an Iranian businessman in Russia who has a political background, he reported that the Russian authorities approached him and said that they are ready to provide advanced weapons to Iran in view of the events in Iraq.  Such as long-range, cruise and laser missiles and sensitive radar devices for electronic warfare, and the French have also made suggestions about sensitive radars.