Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 17, 1983

Although I was tired, things started early in the morning. After the prayer, naval officials came and spoke about the needs of the navy and complained that the navy's pier project in Chabahar-Kenarak Bay had been changed and was being implemented in an unreliable manner. I summoned [Mr. Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian], the Minister of Roads [and Transportation]; he took part in the negotiations. It was decided that we would follow up. It would be better to implement the previous port plan, since in the future we will need access to the shores of Baluchistan on the open sea.  

Two clerics came, and we consulted and made decisions regarding the policy on how to deal with Sunni clerics. Many of them are sincerely in favor of the Islamic Republic; some are also engaged in mischief, and some have relations with smugglers and outlaws; it was decided to strengthen the good ones, guide the bad ones, and attract the indifferent ones.

At the joint morning ceremony of the armed forces, I spoke about the importance of the base and the people, strengthening the south and north of the province, and the Soviet and American conspiracy. I gave an interview to the provincial IRIB and spoke about the results of the trip, and at seven-thirty we flew toward Bandar Abbas. We had breakfast on the plane and summarized the results of the work with the ministers. We entered [Bandar Abbas] airport at eight-thirty. Military personnel, clerics, institutions, officials, and people took part in the official reception - as is usually the case - and from the airport we went straight to the naval base. We rested a little, until the scene for the joint morning ceremony of the armed forces was arranged and the musicians returned from the airport. The ceremony was held and I delivered an extensive speech about the importance of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's power and its importance to the world and the possibility of insecurity there, in the event of damage to Khark and threats from aggressors. The commander of the [Persian Gulf] fleet, Captain [Qahraman] Malekzadeh - who is a composed man - spoke; with appreciation.

We went to visit the base's ship repair center; it is interesting. We visited the docks where ships are repaired and the workshops. The personnel showed warm feelings. Before this visit, in the base's war room, two officers explained the situation at sea and the positions of our own forces and the enemies. I obtained useful information. Then, with all the companions, we set out to see the sea and naval operations. We boarded the Zaal destroyer and some of the companions boarded the Faramarz warship. At the ship's entrance, an official reception ceremony was held. The ship's personnel acted very orderly. From eleven in the morning until six in the afternoon, we were on the water. The weather was very hot. In the command and operations room and on the ship's deck and... they gave sufficient explanations and introduced most of the ship's sections, weapons, and equipment. They also demonstrated combat operations using a mortar and cannons and firing illuminating rockets; it was not very successful. They also demonstrated the use of an automatic rescue boat, which was interesting. We had lunch in the noncommissioned officers' hall and performed the congregational prayer on the ship's deck. Dr. [Mohammad-Taqi] Banki [head of the Plan and Budget Organization] also jumped into the sea and took part in the rescue-boat demonstration.

At night, we went to the [Hormozgan] governorate guesthouse. The electricity in Bandar Abbas was out. The huge 1,300-megawatt power plant had gone out of operation because a gas pipe had burst. There was a possibility of sabotage because of our trip; the heat became very intense. We had a meeting with the province's Sunni and Shia clerics, in which two Shia and Sunni Friday prayer leaders spoke, and I also spoke at length. The heads of the revolutionary institutions also came; they are coordinated, and they also stated their problems. In the heat, I could not eat dinner. I took a shower and went to sleep. I could not fall asleep; finally, at the guards' suggestion, around midnight, we went to the naval facility - which had electricity - and slept there; Yasser and Mehdi, poor things, had also become exhausted from the heat. We woke them up and took them with us.