Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – December 24, 1986

After praying and getting the news and having breakfast, we left for the air force base maneuver field to participate in the morning ceremony of the armed forces. After the ceremony, I gave a speech and from there we went to the Navy Pier. Many ships and frigates were docked, and with the conditions of the risk of air attack, the gathering of so many ships in one place is not right.

We visited a warship and an Arrow-class frigate equipped with the Harpoon [surface-to-surface] missile. Then we went to the workshop. We visited an explanation about the repair of the gyroscope and the construction of false naval targets to deflect the enemy's missiles.

Then we went to the [power plant] of atomic energy [Bushehr]. The official there gave an explanation about the general situation. The main task is to maintain the status quo and they would like to be allowed to complete some phases of the work. We had lunch at the air force guest house and after a little rest and TV interview, we flew to Omidiye. Because it was dangerous, we flew from a low level. [Colonel Hoshang Sediq] the commander of the air force, was responsible for piloting the plane.

We reached the base in the evening. We had no contact with Moghadam camp. It was not known whether the attack will start tonight or not. We sent Mr. Sanjaghi to the region. Around ten o'clock, they announced that the operation called Karbala Chahar had started; We were surprised. Mr. [Mansour] Sattari immediately left to transfer Haq and we also informed the army's ground forces at the western camp. Mohsen Rezaei and Mohsen Rafiq Dost reported the initial success over the phone. I slept after twelve o'clock at night. They woke me up and said that Iraq has announced the attack.