Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DUBAI481
2008-12-31 14:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Dubai
Cable title:  

IRAN: A TEHRAN DEPUTY MAYOR DISCUSSES QALIBAF'S CANDIDACY

Tags:  PGOV PREL IR EFIN 
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VZCZCXRO7989
PP RUEHBC RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHDE #0481/01 3661454
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 311454Z DEC 08
FM AMCONSUL DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6328
INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 9548
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//OSD/RUE//
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 3354
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBAI 000481 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR EFIN
SUBJECT: IRAN: A TEHRAN DEPUTY MAYOR DISCUSSES QALIBAF'S CANDIDACY
AND THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET

DUBAI 00000481 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Ramin Asgard, Director, Iran Regional Presence
Office, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBAI 000481

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR EFIN
SUBJECT: IRAN: A TEHRAN DEPUTY MAYOR DISCUSSES QALIBAF'S CANDIDACY
AND THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET

DUBAI 00000481 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Ramin Asgard, Director, Iran Regional Presence
Office, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) Summary: Tehran Deputy Mayor and head of Tehran's Urban
Beautification Organization Hojatollah Mollasalehi told us in a
brief meeting on December 18 that Tehran Mayor Qalibaf had not
decided whether to run for president or not. Qalibaf's decision
would depend on the prospects of President Ahmadinejad's
re-election. He said Ahmadinejad's hopes, in turn, hinge on USG
actions. Mollasalehi also discussed Tehran's finances and
Qalibaf's tenure as mayor. End Summary.


2. (C) IRPO officer on December 18 met briefly with Tehran
Deputy Mayor Hojatollah Mollasalehi in Dubai. Mollasalehi has
applied for a visa to travel to the U.S. to visit family.
Mollasalehi was friendly and willing to discuss matters, but did
not directly answer questions, particularly regarding Qalibaf.

Qalibaf Bides His Time

--------------


3. (C) Mollasalehi said Qalibaf's participation in the
presidential election depends on the situation and then assessed
that President Ahmadinejad's re-election hopes hinge on USG
actions. Mollasalehi indicated that Ahmadinejad could win
re-election if either ties between the IRIG and the USG improve,
which would allow Ahmadinejad to take credit, or if the USG
takes more aggressive action against Iran, prompting Iranians to
rally around the president. When asked if the Iranian people
would actually credit Ahmadinejad for improved Iran-USG ties, he
responded that the educated people would not, but many others
would.

Tehran's Expanding Budget

--------------


4. (C) Mollasalehi, one of several Deputy Mayors, joined the
Tehran Municipality two months after Qalibaf became Mayor in

2005. He has since then headed the Urban Beautification
Organization, which has assumed more importance under Mayor
Qalibaf. Mollasalehi said the organization's budget has
increased from USD 10 million under President Ahmadinejad, the
former mayor, to USD 400 million. He said the beautification
program is quite popular among Tehran's residents.


5. (C) Tehran's broader budget has also expanded under Qalibaf,
according to Mollasalehi. He said the budget had previously
been USD 1.4 billion dollars and is now several times that size.
When asked how the city was able to raise more money, he
responded that the city now has better management. He explained
that the city has three sources of revenue, selling building
permits for the construction of new buildings, selling
advertising space, and taxes. (Comment: Mollasalehi did not
break down what percentage each of these sources contribute to
the overall budget, but Tehran in the past few years has
experienced a real estate and construction boom, which
presumably also figures prominently in Tehran's burgeoning
budget).


6. (C) Mollasalehi indicated that Tehran does not receive any
support from the central government the relationship between
Ahmadinejad and Qalibaf remains poor. When asked if Tehran
received support from the central government during the Khatami
presidency, he noted that the relationship between Khatami and
Ahmadinejad had also been adversarial.


COMMENT


--------------




7. (C) Mollasaheli's contention that Ahmadinejad now finds
himself in the ironic position of depending on USG action to
assure his re-election is one other IRPO contacts have made
recently. We have also heard that Qalibaf is not a favorite of
Ayatollah Khamenei, and he may be hesitant to publicly express
his candidacy without some sign from the Supreme Leader.
Nevertheless, Qalibaf has solid support and popularity in
Tehran, and as the city's increasing budget shows, has
established himself as an able politician and administrator. End

DUBAI 00000481 002.2 OF 002


comment.
ASGARD