Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – February 16, 1991

The issue of changing Iraq's position in connection with leaving Kuwait has overshadowed all other issues. Yesterday evening, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the TV broadcasted this news as "important news" by interrupting the program of showing the movie. At half past three, the announcement of the Iraqi Command Council was published and said that Iraq is ready to comply with Security Council Resolution 660 and set conditions that were rejected by the allies. Some countries have called Iraq's move positive, while others have called it negative.

I reached my office at half past eight in the morning. Timsar [Brigadier Mansour] Sattari, [Army Air Force Commander] came. He reported on the situation of the Iraqi planes that have arrived in Iran and appealed for the continuation of purchases from China. Dr. Hashemi [Golpaigani] came for the order of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution.

Mr. [Hossein] Mahluji, [Minister of Mines and Metals] came with his deputies. They gave a report on the status of Ahvaz, Isfahan, Mobarakeh iron ore smelters and Gol Gohar and Chadramelo iron ore mines and raised the needs. The progress of Isfahan iron smelting is good.

In the evening Dr. Velayati, [Minister of Foreign Affairs] came. He reported his trip to Yugoslavia, Geneva, Italy and Russia. With [Mr. Saud Al-Faisal], the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, they have not reached a complete agreement in Geneva and negotiations are continuing. The Russians and Italians are worried about the American monopoly of power in the Persian Gulf region after the war, and they are willing to cooperate with Iran to prevent the monopoly.

Mr. [Mikhail] Gorbachev, [head of the Soviet Union's Presidium], sent me a private message and expressed his concern about the military solution of the Persian Gulf issue. He called for more movement for a political solution to the problem and said that if the United States insists on that solution, the disarmament policy of the Soviet Union may be revised. The Soviet leader wants excellent relations and more cooperation with Iran.

In the meeting of the Supreme National Security Council, the new situation was reviewed and it was decided to declare the new position of Iraq as positive. They talked about the answer to Saddam's letter, considering the new conditions. Mr. [Mahdi] Karroubi, [Chairman of the Islamic Council], you will ask me to travel to the countries of [North] Korea and Pakistan. In the evening, Mr. Ahmad came and we talked about accepting responsibility.