Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – November 5, 1986

I came to the parliament at eight thirty in the morning. I spent most of the time reading the reports. My speech yesterday evening has exploded like a bomb in the world. Americans are in trouble. They have not been treated badly. They have informed that in order to prevent the flow of the hostages' freedom from being ruined, they will be short, but they have no choice but to do so, because they have nothing to say, unless they resort to lying, which is more likely to be scandalous. All the world's media have put this content at the top of their news. Mr. Mohsen Rezaei came. We discussed the war. A group of representatives came to complain to the Minister of Agriculture.

Mr. Ray Shahri informed that Ahmad Kashani, the representative of Natanz, was arrested for the crime of participating in an underground group of soldiers who made announcements for the division of the army and the IRGC. The eighth issue of that announcement was ready for distribution at his house. Mr. [Mohammedreza] Bahaner approached and asked for an explanation about this. I told the situation and promised to help to solve the problem. In the evening, the chairman of the parliament had a meeting.

Mr. Kongerlo came and said [Manochehr] the victim of Far, who was left out of the flow of American hostages, is very upset and is crying. The meeting of the heads of forces was held in the Prime Minister's office. It was approved that the issue of freeing the hostages and providing for the needs will continue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should pursue the issue with France and pursue the proposal to exchange the American spy with our money in America. It was also decided that if we can, we will satisfy the Lebanese to release two of the hostages at the request of Syria. I arrived home late.