DEMARCHE: MISSING/DETAINED AMCITS IN IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000435 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EAP/ANP, NEA/IR FOR R. MCINTURFF, NEA/IDP FOR D. BALDI E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2017 TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV PHUM KPAO NZ IR SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: MISSING/DETAINED AMCITS IN IRAN REF: A. SECSTATE 80300 ¶B. SECSTATE 76354 Classified By: Acting DCM Katherine B. Hadda, Reasons 1.4 b, d ¶1. (C) ADCM and A/P-E Counselor delivered demarche points in Ref A and B on June 13 to Darryl Dunn, Director of Middle East and African Division at New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Mr. Dunn expressed appreciation for the background and indicated he understood the importance of this issue to the United States and would disseminate our concerns among MFAT officials and their Mission in Tehran. Mr. Dunn further informed us that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Safari will be in Wellington on June 26 -27 for meetings with GNZ officials. As part of the scheduled topics for discussion, New Zealand will continue their ongoing Human Rights dialogue with Iranian officials and will raise the issues the Embassy has brought to his attention. Embassy will follow-up with MFAT to learn of any response from their Iranian interlocutors, and seek opportunities to discuss this issue further with appropriate GNZ officials. ¶2. (C) Dunn also said that he had recently visited Tehran, mostly to check on the well-being of the two NZ diplomats stationed there. While there, Deputy General Ezadi, who works under Dep FM Safari told him that Iran believes New Zealand has hardened its position on Iran's nuclear policies. Dunn countered that there has been no change: while New Zealand respects Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy the GNZ and the rest of the international community remains concerned about Iran's nuclear research. Dunn stressed the need for Iran to comply with the UNSC and IAEA. ¶3. (C) Dunn told us that he also had lunch in Tehran with the former Iranian Ambassador to Wellington, Kambiz Sheikh-Hassani. The Ambassador seemed subdued, which Dunn took as a sign that the relatively liberal Foreign Ministry is feeling pressure from the GOI. Dunn also said that the Ambassador seems to have told his superiors that Dunn was an old friend from Wellington in order to be able to have lunch with him. The Ambassador does not normally attend NZ diplomatic events in Tehran. MCCORMICK