Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 1, 1987

The news of Saudi Arabia's [agents] conflict with Iranian pilgrims is at the top of the news. Propaganda of reaction and arrogance wants to falsely relate the case to the conflict between Iranian pilgrims and pilgrims of other countries and then the intervention of Saudi Arabia; American conspiracy and Saudi execution.

In Ayatollah Khamenei's office, we had a meeting with him and me, the Prime Minister and Mr. Mousavi Ardabili. We examined the issue of Mecca and possible reactions from our side. An extraordinary meeting of the government was held with the presence of the heads of the forces and after the discussion, decisions were made. It was decided that three days of public mourning will be declared, and tomorrow there will be a holiday and a public march across the country, and the president will give an interview.

Saudi Arabia was contacted. Mr. [Mahdi] Karroubi [representative of the Imam and head of the Iranian Hajj] said that fifty-one bodies have reached our hands and some are in the hands of the Saudis, and they do not allow the wounded who are in the hands of the Saudis to be visited.

There is a rumor that Mortezai Far (Minister of Chant) was martyred and Mr. [Abdullah] Javadi Amoli was injured. Mr. Karroubi said that some personalities were injured so that they should be returned to Iran along with the bodies. It was decided that a delegation would go to Saudi Arabia to check the affairs, but by 1:30 in the afternoon, the visa had not yet been issued.

I came to my office at noon. A group of representatives came anxiously to get information and assignments. Today in Tehran, people have had sporadic demonstrations and have attacked and damaged the embassies of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and some other places. Factory workers and students have poured into the streets.

I worked in my office in the evening. Mr. [Feridon] Mahdinejad came. He brought information about the situation in Makkah. According to his sources, who reach us by phone from Europe, we have about six hundred martyrs and a number of personalities have been injured, including Mr. Karroubi, Hijazi, Ghiori and Hashemian. They said that Mr. Mortezai Far is alive, and it was discussed about the blows we can give to Saudi Arabia. They were advised to help free a German hostage through Syria.

Dr. Velayati came. He gave the report of the trip to Germany and Switzerland and we talked about the actions against Saudi Arabia and also about Saudi Arabia not allowing our delegation to go. They were supposed to fly without permission. Mr. Hosni Saadi informed that in today's operation, the Iraqis have been pushed back from Mimak to a great extent. I told Mr. [Kamal] Kharazi [Chief of the War Propaganda Staff] to magnify the news of the war tomorrow. Mr. [Ahmad] Jannati [head of the Islamic Propaganda Organization] consulted about the destination of the march: Parliament or university, I said that there is no problem anywhere. If the parliament comes, I will speak.