Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 4, 1996

In the news, Rasul Khadim's victory in [the 1996 Summer Olympic wrestling competition] in Atlanta and winning the Olympic gold medal and performing the Iranian national anthem caused happiness in the heart of America. Previously, the right of [Abbas] had been lost with the unfair judgment of the referees, and also in the reports, the serious possibility of Iran's role in the Saudi explosion is a sign of mischief. Mr. Dr. Velayati, [Minister of Foreign Affairs], called me to talk to the leadership about the beginning of American threats and the choice of a remedy.

We went to the leader's office for the Prophet's birthday ceremony. The guests of Vahdat week and foreign delegations also came. In the slogans, many people deliberately mentioned me with the usual slogan "Long live Khamenei, long live Hashemi". It seemed to me that it is not appropriate to act like this in the leadership meeting. I congratulated with a short speech and while counting the honors of the revolution, I pointed out the victory of [Rasul] Khadim in Atlanta to the Americans. After twenty-eight years, we won a gold medal in the Olympics. I told Mr. Hashemi Taba, [the head of the physical education organization], to think of a gift for him.

I gave a thousand tomans to each of the security guards and clerks. I came home He spent the night resting and studying. Mr. [Mohammed Reza] Tavasli came; As an Eid visit, but mostly to find out about the policy of electing the future president and said that he brought a cataract in one eye. At noon and at night, we had dinner with Mohsen, Mehdi, Fereshte, Fouad, and Kazem.