Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 2, 1990

I got the Farsi program of BBC Radio; He did not inform about Iraq's attack on Kuwait. Voice of America's Farsi program, which started at 6:30 in the morning, learned about the Iraqi attack after a few minutes of the start of the news broadcast, and said that we were informed that the Iraqi forces had crossed the border of Kuwait; It is an important incident.

I followed the news carefully. I could not get Radio Kuwait. Little by little, the news came on the telexes and it turned out that the aggression had started at two in the morning and the Iraqi army forces had quickly reached the capital of Kuwait. They have also had an air attack; Serious resistance from the Kuwaitis is not evident, except for scattered clashes. Amir Kuwait has fled.

Iraqis spread the news in such a way that a coup has taken place in Kuwait and the coup plotters have asked for support from Iraq and the Iraqi army has entered Kuwait at their invitation. But it is clear that the article is not true. I was in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the command of the IRGC in Ahvaz, the command of the Nahaja [= Army Air Force] and [Mr. Mohammad Hashemi], the head of the [Organization of] Radio and Television.

I negotiated with the leadership over the phone; It was agreed that we should not rush to take a position and hold a meeting of the Supreme Security Council. In the evening, the Supreme National Security Council held a meeting in the study and research office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate Iraq's aggression against Kuwait. There were also military commanders and directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; It was decided to make a declaration and condemn and to put the troops on alert.

The interpretation was that Iraq will suffer from this action and it will end up in our favor. It was decided that [Mr. Velayati], the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will travel to some Arab countries such as Syria, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. [Mr. Al-Sabah], the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, called from an unknown place and asked for help.