Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 19, 1987

At half past six in the morning, I got the Farsi news of America and England. The contents of last night's programs were repeated with a slight difference. Stark's ship is being towed to Bahrain, but the fire is still not extinguished. Americans and Iraqis are both confused.

I reached the parliament at half past seven. I got the report. I spoke with the Minister of Oil and the commander of Nazaja [Army Ground Forces]. No problem has occurred.

Before the order, I talked about the damage to Russian and American ships. I stayed in the meeting until ten o'clock and then I came to my office.

Dr. Hadi [Najafabadi] came. He informed that the advisory group agrees with the proposal to release an American hostage for propaganda pressure on America, which said that giving our money is not related to hostages. He emphasized to normalize the situation of Mr. Montazeri.

I had two meetings at noon; with the representative of the Vadelfan dynasty and the representative of Khorramshahr. I took the reports and read them, it was not important. Mr. Mohadi Savji inquired by phone about the fate of a person named Khatami, who is missing in Lebanon, to alleviate his family's worries; I said that an investigation has been ordered. The Ministry of Information reported that this person was spying for the Syrians and was arrested.

I came home after breaking the fast. At night, I listened to the Voice of America [radio]. The incident of damage to the American warship has put everything under the spotlight. It rained heavily, with thunder and lightning, and the weather has become unseasonably cold. Chastity and the children went to the revival ceremony. Yasir went to Jamaran Mosque and others went to Bilal Mosque or Al-Sadiq Community (AS).