Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 22, 1981

To visit the front, spend the Nowruz holidays with the fighters, and examine ways to activate the fronts—which were stagnant—we departed for Khuzestan at 7:30 AM as previously scheduled, aboard a small Jet Falcon aircraft, accompanied by Effat, Fatemeh, Yaser, Mehdi, and several guards. At the airport, we saw Mr. Zaboli, the sharia judge of Bandar Abbas, who was heading there. Mr. Bani-Sadr was also departing for Fasa. We arrived in Ahvaz at 9:30 AM. The Governor of Khuzestan, the Friday Prayer Leader of Ahvaz, the IRGC division commander, and a group of people had come to the airport to welcome us. I gave a brief interview to Ahvaz Television. My family, along with Mr. Yahyavi, went to the home of Martyr Alamolhoda's family and joined Mrs. Rajai. The Governor, the Friday Prayer Leader, and I drove to Mahshahr.

In Mahshahr, at the War Operations Headquarters, we reviewed the war situation and the displaced refugees with the commander of the 77th Division of Khorasan, Colonel Javadi—who has recently taken over management of the Arvand front from Colonel Forouzan—and representatives of revolutionary institutions. Colonel Kehtari provided good explanations. The primary purpose of the trip is to gain a clearer understanding of the situation at the front. The reports bring both hope and concern. We receive such reports in Tehran as well. Through visits and discussions with frontline troops, we evaluate these reports. After lunch and prayers, we departed for Abadan by helicopter at two o'clock in the afternoon. To remain hidden from enemy radar, the helicopters flew just a few meters off the ground; it was quite fascinating. The most challenging destination of the trip is Abadan itself. The city is under siege, and the presence of officials among the self-sacrificing and volunteer forces in such a place helps boost morale. Doing so during the Nowruz holiday, along with identifying needs, strengths, and weaknesses, can be very effective.

We landed at Choebdeh, alongside the Bahmanshir River and the date groves of Abadan. We set off by car toward Abadan, passing by numerous burnt storage tanks [the Abadan tank farm]. An immense fortune has been lost, and more than half of the storage tanks have been destroyed. We drove around the city for a bit and entered the Abadan IRGC headquarters. The guards showed great warmth and enthusiasm. Then, along with my companions, we toured the city, visiting the refinery interior and driving through the city streets. The Friday Prayer Leader of Abadan, Mr. Jami, joined us as well. We visited the Operations Headquarters; Colonel Shokrriz provided explanations using a map. We went to the front; at Station Seven, near Khorramshahr, IRGC forces from Urmia and Shiraz were deployed. We inspected several mortar positions, and I loaded a shell into a mortar and fired it; the boys were full of faith and high spirits. The sounds of exploding enemy shells were heard constantly, and we had to lie flat on the ground. We sat in their living quarters, and they took photos. I wanted to go near the bridge, but they did not allow me.

The Abadan refinery has not been completely destroyed, but the damage is considerable. The city of Abadan is empty of civilian residents; only a few thousand people remain [in the city]. We performed the Maghrib and Isha prayers in the large basement of the Provisions Committee, and I delivered a speech to those present, answered their questions, and then went to a hotel to meet the Khorramshahr IRGC [forces]; they were spirited and impressive. At eleven o'clock at night, we went to the War Management Center, ate a simple soldier's dinner, and slept there. The enemy, having apparently heard news of my arrival, engaged in intense aerial activity that night, and the anti-aircraft defense of our building was active.