Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 1, 1991

Mr. Özal arrived at nine in the morning. We traveled to the airport together, and on the way, we discussed issues concerning the Iranian mosque and school; it was agreed that these matters would be resolved. He also provided details regarding dam construction projects, power plants, and similar initiatives. Due to poor weather conditions, we were unable to land in the city of İzmit [the center of Kocaeli Province], where we had planned to visit a tire manufacturing plant.

We landed in Istanbul instead. We were taken to visit a private-sector textile facility—encompassing spinning, weaving, and garment production—though it was neither particularly significant nor interesting. We then parted ways; I proceeded to our consulate to meet with the staff.

Mr. Salah al-Din, the head of affairs for Shia mosques, arrived and presented a report on the status of these mosques. He expressed satisfaction with the progress being made and claimed that the Alevis were gradually gravitating toward the Shia faith. He requested assistance in securing facilities for Shia merchants; I brought this matter to the attention of the trade representative.

He exercised *taqiyya* (prudent dissimulation) regarding his interactions with us, given the stance of the Turkish government. We went to a Shia mosque to perform prayers. Along the route, crowds had gathered on both sides of the streets, and near the mosque, they expressed their sentiments with great warmth. The prayer leader (*imam*) delivered a welcoming address. A group of Iranian girls performed a song, and following the congregational prayers, I gave a brief speech.

From there, we visited the Ottoman Museum. The director provided an overview, after which a musical performance and a ceremonial display—reminiscent of the Ottoman era—were staged for us; it was quite interesting. Lunch was served by the Bosphorus Strait. The manager of the local restaurants had also organized an exhibition featuring various Turkish food items, including legumes, vegetables, fruits, and preserves.

We visited the pavilion of "Sacred Relics"—artifacts attributed to the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions, such as swords, garments, a curtain from the Kaaba, a hair of the Prophet, a letter written by him, and similar items. A ceremony was held to remove the Prophet’s (PBUH) cloak from its golden chest. A headscarf was blessed by touching it to the sacred cloak and then given to Effat. Everyone present sought blessings by touching their personal belongings to the cloak; it is occasionally unveiled for distinguished guests.

Afterward, accompanied by Özal, we took a helicopter tour over Istanbul; the city struck me as truly significant and magnificent. It is said to have a population of 7.5 million, though it appeared even larger to me. We landed in the courtyard of a newly built hotel, situated in a spectacular location along the Bosphorus. After a brief rest, I held an extensive press conference and answered various questions.

We performed the Maghrib and Isha prayers in our suite. Mr. [Hadi] Nejad-Hosseinian and Mr. [Gholamreza] Aghazadeh arrived and briefed us on the progress of the negotiations, the proposed contracts, and the challenges that had arisen. We then headed downstairs together and, accompanied by Özal, boarded a pleasure craft.

We were hosted for dinner aboard the vessel, which was attended by a large group of both Iranians and Turks. We discussed the difficulties encountered during the negotiations with Mr. Özal, and they were resolved. These include the establishment of a power transmission line, the operation of a passenger train from Iran to Istanbul, the removal of the cap on the number of Iranian trucks entering Turkey, and the elimination of the requirement for Turkish trucks entering Iran to pay a one-hundred-dollar fee.

The ship cruised the Bosphorus for a few hours, and we returned to the hotel around midnight. I wrote down the events of the past two or three days and went to sleep around one in the morning.