Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 1, 1984

At seven o'clock in the morning, it became clear that the plane, after going to Beirut and Cyprus, is finally sitting at Mehrabad Airport; We have to wait for the next events. I spoke with Ayatollah Khamenei and Ahmad Agha for tonight's party of the heads of state at our house. We set the time to meet Imam in the evening.

The members of the parliament's presiding committee called that some say that because the law on the quality of obtaining a vote of confidence has just been approved and fifteen days must pass until its implementation, we cannot have a vote of confidence program tomorrow. I said, apparently, this issue is related to ordinary laws, not internal regulations, and at the same time, it should be discussed and decided in the presidium of the parliament.

Ahmad Agha and Sadegh Tabatabai came. Sadegh informed that seven million dollars from the balance of the fraudulent side of the tank transaction - which was lost - were found and action was taken to get it back and results were reached, and now the matter [dealing with it] is pending. [He wanted advice], between waiting a few years until the court's decision, or taking about two-thirds of it.

The hijackers demanded fuel and food at Mehrabad airport. In the evening, we arrived at Imam's service with the president. We discussed the situation of the fronts and the difference of opinion of Sayad [Shirazi] with the commanders of the IRGC and the army. We asked Mr. Sayad [Shirazi] about entrusting the command of the [Southern] operation, who believes in it. They agreed on the condition of the acceptance [of Sayad Shirazi's command] by the commanders of the operating armies, and they raised questions about the cause of the weak morale or failure of the troops [in carrying out operations].

At night, the leaders were my guests. There was a discussion about the limits of "highly confidential" and "secret" category news to the representatives and ministers, as well as the disputes of the Supreme Judicial Council with the Tehran Revolutionary Prosecutor, regarding the tenure of prisons and the release of rewards. Mr. [Ali] Shamkhani [Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC] came and gave explanations about the hijacking incident and the hijackers, and decisions were made.