Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 8, 1989

[Today was the first day of the holy month of Ramadan]. At quarter past three in the morning, we woke up with Efat, Mohsen, Mehdi and Yaser to have breakfast. I arrived at the parliament at half past ten. Mr. [Mohammed Javad] Irvani [Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance] came. He gave a report on the economic situation and talked about important economic plans and cooperation with the Russians and somehow justified his position on the issue of note 29 paragraph 14 of the budget.

Mr. [Mohiuddin] Fazel Harandi [head of the Commission for Agriculture and Rural Development] came. Reported the trip to Japan. On my behalf, he had gone to attend the burial ceremony of [Mr. Hirohito] the emperor of this country. He asked the imam about the continuation of the work in the seven-member land transfer commissions and brought the text of the resolution of the council of experts about Mr. Montazeri. This text was with him to complete the signatures.

Mr. Mohsen Rezaei [commander-in-chief of the IRGC] and [Ali] Shamkhani [commander of the ground forces and deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC] came. They discussed the future of the IRGC, weapons purchases, and securing the IRGC's debts. Mr. Rezaei asked to come to Russia with me. They inquired about the employment of Mr. [Hoshang] Siddique, the former commander of the Nahaja [Army Air Force]. I said it should be coordinated by Mr. [Mansour] Sattari and [Mustafa] Torabi. Mohsen came and arranged the trip to China.

Mr. Hossein Marashi, Islami, [Ishaq] Jahangiri and [Majid] Ansari came. They consulted about the representative of the people of Kerman instead of the late [Haj Sheikh Abbas] Hosni Saadi. They talked about the constitution and future leadership; They proposed a new theory.

In the evening, Mr. [Majid] Ghasemi, the head of the Central Bank, came. He talked a lot about economic, monetary and political issues and had suggestions and questions and told about the financial and currency situation. I did office work until almost iftar.

We went to the president's office after breaking the fast. It was a meeting of the heads of forces. Dr. Velayati reported on his trip to the Soviet Union and Syria and asked for permission to send another shipment of oil to Syria. They talked about my trip to the Soviet Union. Everyone emphasized on traveling. The issues of Afghanistan and Lebanon were also discussed. We decided to participate in the Turkish arms exhibition. I came home late.