In a meeting that the commanders of the committees and the Khorasan army had with the Imam, an official invitation was extended from the Imam to travel to Mashhad and visit Hazrat Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (a.s.). The Imam said: “Visiting the eighth Imam (a.s.) is my wish, but despite the difficulties I have and social meetings, it is not possible for me and I cannot travel. I hope that I will be granted this opportunity.”
Source: Kayhan Newspaper - 1979/11/04