Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – November 20, 1985

I arrived at the parliament at half past eight. I had meetings until noon. The administrators of [organization] of the week of mobilization of the oppressed came. They reported and I spoke for them. The members of the chamber of commerce came and asked for intercession with the government for more cooperation with the chamber. Some members of parliament staff came.

Mr. Ariazi and Tarabi came. They reported the negotiation with the Chinese delegation. It seems that they have a biased policy. In the evening, the chairman of the parliament had a meeting. Imam's letter was read in the meeting. We discussed the difference of opinion of the representatives in the regulations for the selection of members of the Sedavsima Supervisory Council and we reached a good result.

At night Mr. [Ali] Shamkhani and [Rahim] Safavi came and reported the future operation. Mr. [Mousavi] Ardabili and the Prime Minister were my guests. The politics of relations with the Soviet Union and the issue of Afghanistan were discussed. I decided to tell our embassy in Pakistan to give a favorable response to the Soviet proposal regarding the appreciation of relations. The budget, war and other matters were discussed.

Mr. [Ayatollah] Khamenei called from Zanjan on the phone and said that due to the fatigue of the trip, they cannot perform Friday prayers on Friday. I asked Mr. Emami Kashani to perform the Friday prayer.

Aghazadeh [Oil Minister] informed by phone that a huge source of heavy oil has been discovered in Bushehr, which probably has between 200 and 500 billion barrels of oil. We emphasized that the news should be published. Akhvi Ahmad and an environmental expert came and told about the solution to the problem of Sarcheshmeh copper workers' building and the start of the second copper smelting furnace by the Iranians. I slept late.