Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 19, 1991

At first, the news arrived that Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev was dismissed in the Soviet and a group of party, army and KGB leaders headed by Gennady Yanaev, Gorbachev's deputy, took over the task.

Later news showed that the anti-communist libertarians, led by Boris Yeltsin, have announced their opposition, and that news has caused stocks to fall in the world's major stock exchanges and the value of oil and gold to rise.

Mr. [Mohammed Javad] Larijani came. We talked about this. He asked for help for his research center. Mr. Mohsen Rezaei, [Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC] came. He gave a report on the country's construction projects carried out by the IRGC's [Khatam al-Anbiya (PBUH) Construction Base]. It is too much: about ten billion tomans. There was a discussion about Soviet issues and possible effects.

Dr. Habibi, [first vice president] came. The current issues of the country were discussed. Members of the Program and Budget Committee of the Parliament came. They talked about the necessity of continuing to support the program, the strengths and weaknesses of implementing the program, and the necessity of pricing. They are worried about the worsening of the economic problems of the deprived sectors. I said that with the establishment of the deprived areas office and the comprehensive plan for water and electricity, gas, roads, schools and employment, we can hope for the future of deprived areas and villages and we expect assistance from the parliamentarians.

In the evening, the Economic Council had a meeting. The budget policies of 1371 and the needs of intra-city bus companies were discussed. Then, the National Security Council had a meeting to examine the consequences of the coup d'état. Everyone's opinion is that the new situation in the Soviet Union is in the best interest of Iran in the current situation. Both politically and economically, more care is needed. I came home at night.