Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 13, 1996

In the reports, the failure of America in imposing the law of intensifying sanctions against Iran and especially Arbakan's trip to Iran and the signing of a twenty billion dollar contract to buy gas from Iran, has been given a lot of attention and has overshadowed all other issues. Steel industry managers came. Mr. [Hossein] Mahluji, [Minister of Mines and Metals], gave a report on the progress indicators of steel and the 22% annual growth in the last seven years, the devaluation and the reduction of the workforce and the good efficiency of the factories. I also gave an encouraging talk on the important works of development of steel industry, especially the initiative of vertical design with new method of iron production. They gave me samples of the production of vertical design cast irons.

Mr. [Mohammedreza] Bahaner came. He asked about the system's policy in the presidential election and tried to get support for Mr. Natiq [Noori]. Mr. [Mohammed Taqi] Mozal [Hamdani], the representative of Bafaq Yazd, came. He applied for his constituency. In the evening, the Economic Council had a meeting. We approved the adjustment rate of 1374 by 3.5%; With some other resolutions. I swam a bit in the [presidential] swimming pool.

Mr. [Mohammed Hossein] Adeli and [Mohammed Reza] Noori [Shahrudi], our travelers in Canada and Saudi Arabia, were guests of Eft with the Adeli family. To compensate for hospitality in Canada. Both expressed satisfaction with the progress of their work.