Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – October 10, 1983

Early in the morning, Mr. [Hossein] Marashi came. I telephoned the governor of the Central Bank and asked him to help prevent the thief from cashing the certified checks. In the afternoon, I went to the Majles. We had a meeting of the caucus of [Majles] representatives who were members of the Islamic Republican Party. As usual, they gave the news, and then a discussion began about the limits of party authority and individual freedoms in the positions taken by representatives in the Majles and on political issues. Until now, the party members in the Majles had had no restrictions imposed by the party on their positions. A group of party representatives had also signed the impeachment of Mr. Nategh [Nouri], who is a member of the party's Central Council. Then the question arose as to whether party members could act independently of the party to this extent. It was decided that we would discuss this matter and make a decision. There are two or three views, and several people spoke. The discussion was postponed to the future. It is planned that we will have one caucus meeting each month and that the branches will meet every week.

After the Maghrib and Isha prayers, the Supreme Defense Council was formed in the Majles. The discussion was mostly about the delivery of the French Super Étendard [aircraft] to Iraq and how to deal with it in terms of propaganda and practical measures, and about the prisoners and the future of Iraq and so on. It is almost clear that the Eastern and Western blocs and the reactionaries are worried about Iran's victory and are acting in Iraq's favor by providing money, propaganda, and modern weapons and by turning a blind eye to the Iraqi army's war crimes against Iran. After the meeting, I gave an interview as the council's spokesman. We were guests for dinner at the home of Mr. [Morteza] Alviri - who has returned from the Hajj. The members of the presidium of the Industries Commission and... were also there. I slept in the Majles that night.