Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 25, 1985

At five in the morning, I woke up with the sound of breaking Tehran's sound barrier by Iraqi planes and anti-aircraft fire. I guessed that our missile hit Baghdad. Akhvi Mohammad [head of the Broadcasting Organization] informed by phone that the AFP announced that a huge explosion shook Baghdad. He also informed that the Iraqi planes dropped their bombs in the deserts around Tehran and fled. Iraq admitted for the first time that Iran has missiles.

Before noon, Ahmad Agha came and said that some media have said that America is under pressure because of the hostages it has in the hands of the Lebanese people, and it wants to seek help from Iran to solve the problem. Although we do not know the hostage takers, I said that if such a request is made, we will consult about it and the possible solution.

We negotiated about [getting] facilities from the Soviet and asked Mr. Rafiq Dost to take action. He also informed that the Russian ambassador was very happy about this issue. I asked the foreign minister to spread the word about our desire to refrain from missile attacks on cities. A person informed that according to Mrs. Sudabah Sadifi, Saudi Arabia tried to know through Mr. [Alireza] Nobri, whether we are satisfied with the fall of Saddam or we want more than that. After consultation, we decided not to answer him. He also claims that Bani Sadr suffered from mental illness.

I summoned Mr. Sayad [Shirazi] to explain his plan; He was supposed to come tomorrow. They brought the reports. Today, Iraq launched an air attack on several cities, but without success. Khark [the oil terminal on the island] was also attacked and it seems that two or three of its planes were shot down. Ahmad Agha suggested that we start the attack on Basra. Mr. [Ayatollah] Khamenei said that it is better to wait until tomorrow. At the end of the night, the phone was connected to the hotel where Efat and the children were staying in Madinah and I asked how they were. They were good and satisfied.