Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 17, 1982

After prayers and some reading, I attended the Economic Council meeting. The discussion was about the scope of private sector activity in industry. It mostly focused on generalities, main guidelines, wealth limits, economic freedoms, etc. I suggested permitting private sector activity in higher education.

At noon, I came to Parliament. In the afternoon, I attended and gave a speech at the memorial service for seven hundred martyrs of Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas, which was held at the Shahid Motahhari School and Mosque; I spoke about the positive impacts of that operation and the value of martyrs and martyrdom to offer condolences to the people and the survivors. At this gathering, I received numerous appeals from combatants who emphasized continuing the war and insulted those who raised the expediency of ending the war. I assured them that the Imam himself oversees the war policy.

Near sunset, Mr. [Morteza] Nabavi, the Minister of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone, came and detailed his conflicts with the Islamic Association, expressing concern. I promised him support. They say he works with the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization; he considers this an accusation. I told him that even if it were true, there was no issue with it.

I spent most of the night watching television and reading reports, and I slept at Parliament. Today, we launched an attack in the Kushk area, dealing a blow to the Iraqi army.