After the morning prayer, I read the reports and answered some letters. At half past seven in the morning, we flew to the Chadormelo stone mine. All the way from Yazd to there is dry desert and drier mountains. On the way, the governor and Mr. [Hossein] Mahlouji were explaining. We toured the mine and explained
After the morning prayer, I read the reports and replied to several letters. At 7:30 AM, we flew toward the Chadormalu iron ore mine. The entire route from Yazd to there is dry desert and even drier mountains. Along the way, the Governor and Mr. [Hossein] Mahlouji provided explanations.
We circled over the mine and I heard explanations. At the mine site, we drove to the top of a large iron ore peak. Massive machines were responsible for leveling and removing the mine's soil, and giant 130-ton trucks were dumping the mine's soil next to the future site.
Messrs. [Mohammad-Taqi] Banki, [CEO of the National Steel Company], and [Hossein] Mahlouji, [Minister of Mines and Metals], explained. With a capacity of about 400 million tons of iron ore and at a cost of about 600 million dollars, work has progressed to the concentration stage, and it will be transferred to Mobarakeh Steel. Then, we heard repeated explanations in the hall. I responded to the staff's expressions of sentiment and greeted them. They were satisfied with their wages.
From there, we flew to the site of the uranium mines. Engineer Soleimani, [Manager of Saghand Mine], and Engineer [Reza] Amrollahi, [Head of the Atomic Energy Organization], explained. They claim
the exploitable reserves are proven. They requested that we provide the credit for establishing the exploitation plant. We visited the Chinese drilling rigs that were working. We saw samples brought up from deep underground. Chinese engineers were also present. Both regions lack water and must bring it from Bahabad.
We flew toward "Chah Afzal" in north Ardakan. Where Jihad-e Sazandegi is implementing the desertification project; it is an interesting area. Similar to Nough desert but full of water, flat, and smooth. They have planted tamarisk, saxaul, and wild spinach. They have good growth. They explained that they want to put the lands at the disposal of the people for camel grazing pastures.
I said they should be allowed to plant pistachios as well, and after they turn green, the land ownership deeds should also be granted. The Friday Imam and the representative of Ardakan wanted the same. The people of Ardakan had come there and had a massive and magnificent gathering.
I was moved as to why we did not go to the city and caused so much trouble for the people. 24 kilometers of travel, so many men, women, and children had come in the desert heat and sun, hungry and thirsty. We did not have a plan to go to the cities. I apologized to the people and gave a warm and friendly talk for them. Mr. [Mohammad-Hossein] Bahjati, the Friday Imam who is a poet and was my classmate in Qom, honored and praised me with a delicate poem. I honored him in my speech.
From there, we went to Roknabad, a model village near Meybod. It is a model in terms of sacrifice in the war; out of every 37 villagers, one person has been martyred. Since there is competition between Meybod and Ardakan, there should be something here similar to what we had with the people of Ardakan. The people of Meybod had also gathered there. [Mr. Alireza Arafi], their Friday Imam, gave a welcome address. I also gave a warm talk. We had prayers and lunch in a good and beautiful school.
It was planned that we go to Abarkouh or Abarghou, but the pilot said if we go, we will be forced to stay the night there, because sunset will arrive. We were forced to cancel; even though the people had been waiting since noon. I was very upset but there was no choice. If we had gone, the programs for the city of Yazd would also have had to be canceled.
Instead, we went to the important alloy steel factory under construction. The project manager gave explanations. We toured by car. They are under construction and have not yet received the main blueprints. Without alloy steel, we cannot have an independent industry. Most of the workers were Afghans. Although we were not scheduled to go there, they were fully prepared and even ceremonial placards had been installed as a precaution.
From there, we flew to the Yazd industrial town to see the province's industrial exhibition. In a large hall, about 150 booths of various types of industries were set up. From all
the booths, I visited. I got very tired. It took about 4 hours. I talked with all of them. I asked about their situation; typically they were satisfied. It showed that in the three years of my government, industries have made good progress. The power went out once; it was early evening. We prayed in the machine-made carpet booth and rested a little. After the visit, I spoke to their group and explained the government's industrial policy.
At 8:30, I went to the house of the late [Rouhollah] Khatami. I participated in a gathering of clerics. Mr. [Mohammad-Ali] Sadoughi gave a welcome address. I spoke for a long time to the students and advised them to be realistic. I also had dinner with them. It was a very good meeting. I saw many friends from my student days. It was planned that we also have a meeting with the women's committee and the family of the late Ayatollah Khatami, which was not done due to fatigue and the late hour. I came to the Governor's office.I wrote down the memories and went to sleep at 12:00 at night.
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