Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's Memoirs - December 1, 2002

 I had a detailed discussion about the importance of the Army, the conspiracy to dissolve the Army in the early days of the Revolution, Imam [Khomeini]'s opposition to it, and the role of the Army in defense, as well as the role of the Navy, considering the importance of the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, oil and gas resources, and the devastating impact of the Navy's strike on December 7, 1980 (Azar 7, 1359 SH), which deprived Iraq of a presence in the Persian Gulf and oil exports until the end of the war, and the damage caused by America's presence in the region.

I visited the Navy's achievements exhibition, including the important C-801 and C-802 missiles, naval mines, Silkworm [missiles], the program for building vessels, and many other things; it is good.

Full Diary Text:

At 8:30, we went to the Navy center for the ceremony marking the anniversary of December 7th (Azar 7th) [Army Navy Day]. Due to the rain, the ceremony had been moved from the parade ground inside the mosque. In the presence of high-ranking Army commanders, Admiral [Abbas] Mohtaj, the Commander of the Navy (NEDAJA), welcomed us and presented a report. I, too, gave a detailed speech about the importance of the Army, the conspiracy to dissolve the Army in the early days of the Revolution, Imam's opposition to it, and the role of the Army in defense and the role of the Navy, considering the importance of the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, oil and gas resources, and the devastating impact of the Navy's strike on December 7, 1980, which deprived Iraq of a presence in the Persian Gulf and oil exports until the end of the war, and the damage caused by America's presence in the region. Awards were given to a number of people. I visited the Navy's achievements exhibition, including the important C-801 and C-802 missiles, naval mines, Silkworm [missiles], the program for building vessels, and many other things; it is good.

I worked in my office until the afternoon. Dr. [Abdullah] Jasbi, [Head of the Islamic Azad University], came regarding the affairs of the Azad University and said that he had dismissed Siadati, the official in charge of student political affairs, due to his recent negative actions. Regarding the Ministry of Science's recent bill, which was rejected by the Guardian Council with 26 objections, he said that a group of right-wing representatives intend to impeach Mr. [Mostafa Moeen], the Minister of Science.

Relatives were my guests for Iftar; I greeted them. Mr. [Ali] Emami [Rad], the representative of Kuhdasht, in his pre-agenda speech in Parliament, accused the Participation Front Party of receiving dollars from the US and raised the possibility that the cost of recent student movements was paid from this source.

In Spain, 200,000 people participated in a demonstration against the government's poor performance in preventing coastal pollution. The sinking of the oil tanker Prestige in the Atlantic Ocean and the resulting oil spill, which polluted tourist and recreational coasts, has angered the public, and the European Union has decided to gradually prevent the presence of old and non-standard ships in adjacent seas.

Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Nouri Shahroudi, [Former Iranian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia], said that Ms. Haifa [bint Faisal, wife of Bandar bin Sultan], the Saudi princess accused in the US of aiding al-Qaeda, is the sister of Saud al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, and this has caused discomfort to the Saudis.