Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 12, 1992

Today, the second ship is docked in Chabahar. It seems that a political problem has arisen for the American government and it was asked in Congress why 22 warships could not control a cargo ship.

Mr. [Syed Ali Akbar] Ajaq Nejad and Ahmadi came from the Cultural Support Headquarters of Azerbaijan and gave a performance report, including accepting 48 students, sending tapes and sending messengers, and preparing suitable books in the Turkish language. They brought the letters of Mr. Ayat Meshkini and Fazel [Lankarani] and asked for help; I helped twenty million tomans. I encouraged them. I was supposed to give a verdict.

Mr. [Abbas Ali] Vakili, [head of the headquarters for handling the affairs of freedmen] came. He gave a report on the activities of the headquarters of the Azadegan Affairs Department and told the future plan. Mr. [Hadi] Nejad Hosseinian came with three Iranian economists who work abroad. They offered a proposal to use the leverage of foreign purchases to get economic and technical concessions. It was decided to establish a center for this purpose. Mr. [Hossein] Kamali, [Minister of Labor and Social Affairs] and his deputies came and asked for welfare measures for the workers.

In the afternoon, Mr. [Hasan] Hasanov, the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, called. He was worried about the pressure of the Armenians and said that they have captured a part of the city of Aghdam in Azerbaijan and are still moving forward. He asked me to talk to the presidents of Armenia and Russia to solve the problem and to become active in the United Nations. I spoke with [Leon Ter] Petrosyan, the president of Armenia, he denied taking over Aghdam and agreed to control it. He said that the US asked Armenia to participate in a meeting in Belgium with the presence of Türkiye for peace talks, and Armenia refused and said that Iran should be included. I worked until four in the evening and came home.