Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 21, 1984

I was alone at home. Chastity and children have gone to Rafsanjan. Faeze has also gone to her home. After the morning prayer, I did the remaining work.

I invited Mr. [Mirhossein Mousavi] the Prime Minister and [Ayatollah Mousavi Ardebili] the President of the Supreme Court of the country and [Ayatollah Khamenei] the President by phone to come to our house for dinner at night. Ahmad Agha was not in Tehran either.

The commanders of the army wanted to come for Eid. I said that I will arrange a meeting for them. Mr. [Syed Mohammad Mousavi] Khoiniha and [Mustafa] Kafashzadeh came. Mr. Khoiniha said about the upcoming Hajj program and that we have announced that we will take one hundred and fifty thousand people to Hajj and Saudi Arabia has accepted it. But Homa Aircraft Company says that it needs four more big planes, which it will be difficult to get for that time. Whether to rent or buy. I said that they should firmly demand that it be implemented and if the plane is not obtained, they should change the schedule of normal flights. There was also a discussion about the war. He said that the rumor of many martyrs in the war is still strong among the people, and the propaganda of the enemies and the spraying of anti-revolution poison have had their effect.

In the evening, Mr. Tausli came and talked about the candidacy of Mr. [Fazlullah] Mahalati [the Imam's representative in the Revolutionary Guards] - whom the [Islamic Republic] party did not accept.

In the evening, Mr. [Ayatollah] Khamenei, Mousavi Ardabili and Engineer [Mirhossein] Mousavi came. Iraq's use of chemical weapons was discussed and we negotiated the provision of facilities for a similar response - subject to appropriate publicity. It was emphasized that in the current situation, more advertising work should be done. Considering the possibility that the Russians may have given Iraq chemical bombs, we decided not to strain relations too much. The sending of foreign journalists to the Majnoon Islands was also approved. The IRGC does not agree [with this action]. Regarding the release of prisoners, more emphasis was placed on the judiciary. Engineer Mousavi [Prime Minister] is satisfied with the progress and growth of industries last year - about 23 percent.

Since the family was not at home, they brought chalukbab for dinner and Agha Jalal also served. On the front last night, they succeeded in striking the intended embankments and neutralized Iraq's efforts to prevent it. Iraqis have used chemical weapons a lot today. They throw poison bullets with cannons.