Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 22, 1988

I was at home. Early in the morning, they reported that Iraq had attacked from north to south in most axes: from the south on the Shalamcheh axis to Khorramshahr, from Kushk and Talaieh to Ahvaz and Khorramshahr roads, from Hor on the inner roads of Hor in Mimek and Somar, and Qasr Shirin and Haj Imran, who have penetrated a lot in Qasr Shirin, Somar and the south. All my time until the night was spent in negotiations and on the phone with the front and headquarters and military officials. The news was all bad. Before noon, Ahmad Agha came to get the news of the war and discuss the conditions and measures after the war in case the war stops. In the afternoon, Mr. [Mohammed Javad] Larijani came and said that he understood from the statements of the Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister that the Russians are not in favor of ending the war until the Afghanistan issue is resolved, and that Iraq's moves today are probably in coordination with the Russians. Ahmad Agha also came and expressed his concern about the possible occupation of Khorramshahr.

There is a general mobilization proposal coming from all around. At night, we held a meeting of the General Staff in order to review the ultimatum to the Security Council and Iraq regarding the mobilization of forces in case the evil continues, but the ultimatum was not approved. But the mobilization of forces was gradually approved.

At the end of the night, the news arrived that the enemy in Khuzestan had retreated or pushed back until near the border. I arrived home late. Yaser reported that Mahmoud Mohi Aldini, the husband of Nosrat's cohabitant, had a stroke and died. I was very impressed.