Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 18, 1983

After prayer and breakfast, we went to the guesthouse. I met with the provincial council of the Islamic Republican Party. Most of what they said was complaints about the Friday prayer leader. I went to Imam Mosque. After the Eid al-Adha prayer, I gave a speech to the people. The city's electricity has still not been restored; they are only using the old turbines, which produce just seven megawatts of electricity, to light some essential places.

From there we went to the [Ninth Fighter] Air Force Base [Bandar Abbas]. In the briefing hall, the base commander presented a report on the condition of the base, its facilities and shortages, and their requests. I also spoke to those present - who were a group of pilots - about the good and bad legacies of the former regime, including the good pilots. There was a good atmosphere. Then, by car, we toured various parts of the base; including the F-4 aircraft.

We boarded a helicopter and saw all the important points of the city from above, and Mr. [Abbas Torkhan], the governor of [Hormozgan], gave the necessary explanations. We landed at Shahid Rajaei Port. It is a huge port. During the previous regime, the plan had been more extensive. Shahid Rajaei reduced its size, but today it is felt that the entire plan is necessary. We asked them to turn on the huge dredging equipment of the Italian company -which was not working because of the shutdown- and saw a sample of its work; it is interesting. We inspected the unloading of the ships' cargo. One of the three basins has been completed, and about 13 ships can berth. It became clear that 89 ships are waiting, and they are charging us demurrage. Each ship charges an average of five thousand dollars per day, which is a major loss. Some claimed that 135 ships were held up.

We went to the guesthouse for lunch. After resting, we met with the executive officials. Some of the officials stated their needs, and I also spoke to them. From there we went to the airport. The organizations had gathered to see us off. I met with members of the Revolutionary Guard and spoke to them. An interview with the provincial IRIB was conducted explaining the results of the trip. We said goodbye and flew toward Kerman.

We arrived in Kerman at the beginning of the night, with a delay. As usual, there was an official reception with military ceremonies; I do not like these ceremonies, but they insist and do not want to fall behind other provinces; it would be better to abolish them altogether. We went to the governorate guesthouse. The clerics, most of whom are old friends from our student days and had also been at the reception ceremony, came. They stayed until late at night. We had dinner together. We had a private meeting with some of them, who had complaints about the officials and were particularly critical of the factionalism among the governorate staff who come from the Islamic Association of the university and are criticized for their monopolistic tendencies. But they work well. News came that we had achieved a victory on the western front; I spoke with Mr. President.