Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 13, 1982

Last night, tired and exhausted, I slept in the Majlis. I studied until seven-thirty. We had an open session. Several bills were passed. At noon, the Friday prayer leaders of East and West Azerbaijan came. Mr. [Moslem] Malakuti, the Friday prayer leader of Tabriz, spoke, and I spoke in response. They were guests of the Majlis for lunch and slept there.

In the evening, I had an interview with Soroush magazine about Martyr Motahhari and a television interview about the role of the Construction Jihad. I had meetings with [Ali] Shams Ardakani, our ambassador to Kuwait, and Dr. [Mohammad] Makri, who is upset because they want to remove him from the Iranian embassy in the Soviet Union, as well as the managing director of Arak Machine Building, who complained about the harassment by opponents - who are under the support of Mr. Khansari, the Friday prayer leader of Arak - and asked for help. I also had a meeting with the Minister of Roads and his deputies, who reported their services, and I praised them.

At night, we had a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Mr. Khamene'i's office, and we made decisions regarding aid to the Palestinians, the Amal Movement, and South Yemen, who have requested assistance. Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad Taghi] Modarresi also came and proposed forming a council for Iraq in Iran; the front's victories have made many people think about the future of Iraq, and the opposing Iraqi Islamic forces are more hopeful than anyone and are active. Let me also add that in my pre-agenda speech at today's session, I spoke about the start of the Beit ol-Moqaddas operation and proposed that tomorrow be declared a holiday.