Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 4, 1982

I stayed at home. Mr. Ahmad came, and we discussed three issues: making all the country's laws Islamic, officials not going on the Hajj, and the Cultural Revolution Headquarters—about which the Imam had recently expressed an opinion without consulting those involved—and the problems surrounding it. I asked Mr. Ahmad that in such matters they should try to coordinate with executive officials and others, and, whenever possible, obtain their views beforehand. We also talked about transferring the children's school from Nikan to Jamaran. The route to Nikan is long, and because of terrorism there is a potential danger for the children, but the standard of that school is better. It was decided that the children would attend the Jamaran school.

We also discussed providing guards for Gohardasht Prison—which is due to be inaugurated—and the Revolutionary Guard said it did not have enough personnel. It was decided that the guards would be provided. I spoke by telephone with Mr. Khamenei and Mr. Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Someone from Europe had proposed giving a four-billion-dollar loan. It was decided that they would investigate it.

We received news that Iraq had sunk a Turkish ship in Khor Musa as it was approaching the port of Mahshahr. It is bad news and plays a fundamental role in the insecurity of the Persian Gulf. In the afternoon, the Supreme Defense Council met at the Imam's office. The commanders of the Revolutionary Guard and the Ground Forces requested a long delay before carrying out the next major operation. We said that if we were going to wait that long, it would be better to try to end the war. The country cannot endure the war dragging on much longer. The discussion became heated, and decisions were made. Before the two recent unsuccessful operations, the atmosphere in the country had not been suitable for raising the possibility of ending the war, and the fighters themselves had not been ready to discuss the issue. But now the situation has reached the point where it is being discussed in the Supreme Defense Council.

We also made decisions about the level and quality of assistance to Lebanon. I gave a radio and television interview and returned home.