Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 3, 1991

Efat went to [Mehrabad] airport to travel to Rafsanjan. I reached my office at half past eight in the morning. Mr. [Hadi] Nejad Hosseiniyan, [Minister of Heavy Industries] came. In order to prevent the abuse of dealers and monopolists and to prevent the unaccountable growth of prices, it was allowed to sell some of the products of heavy industries in the open market. I emphasized the production of more profiles.

[Mr. Hossein Sadeghi], our ambassador in Kuwait came. He told about the situation there and informed us that the Kuwaitis have informed us that under the pressure of America, they have agreed to give the naval base to America. Mr. [Majid] Abbaspour, [President's Technical Adviser] came. He gave the report of his trip to Romania and the lack of access to his goals in the procurement of goods and was allowed to negotiate with another country. Mr. [Mohammed Hasan] Akhtri, our ambassador in Syria, came. He told the needs of Lebanon and Hezbollah, the situation in Syria and the current issues there.

[Mr. Morteza Nabavi, Seyed Mahmoud Doa'i, Ghafoor Garshasbi and Masih Mohajeri], the editors of Resalat, Information, Abrar and Islamic Republic newspapers came. They got explanations about economic policies and foreign policy; I think it was a useful meeting to justify the newspapers. They talked about the government's policy and sought solutions for the government's lack of information in justifying the programs.

In the evening, the Supreme Council of National Security had a meeting. Discussions and decisions were made about the IRGC becoming more active in Kurdistan. Regarding the control of newspapers, in order to prevent the publication of news disturbing the national security, it was decided to prepare a program for bulletins and secret news. The recent fire in Tehran market was also discussed. I came home at night. I ate alone.