Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT733
2009-06-10 12:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

IRAN ELECTION UPDATE: TRUCKERS INDICATE SUPPORT

Tags:  IR PGOV PREL TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000733 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/IR AND SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2019
TAGS: IR PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: IRAN ELECTION UPDATE: TRUCKERS INDICATE SUPPORT
FOR MOUSAVI IS ON THE RISE

REF: ASHGABAT 687

ASHGABAT 00000733 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000733

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/IR AND SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2019
TAGS: IR PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: IRAN ELECTION UPDATE: TRUCKERS INDICATE SUPPORT
FOR MOUSAVI IS ON THE RISE

REF: ASHGABAT 687

ASHGABAT 00000733 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Conversations with Iranian truck drivers held in and
around Ashgabat on June 10 demonstrate that support for
candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi is growing among working class
Iranians. Iran Watcher spoke with transiting drivers
representing various geographic areas and ethnic groups and
found that a majority of those interviewed plan to vote for
Mousavi. Most of the others said they are still firmly
behind Ahmadinejad, while still others declined to state a
preference, saying the vote could go "either way." These
views contrast sharply with those expressed in earlier
conversations with drivers at the border with Uzbekistan on
May 29 (Reftel),several days before both the televised
Ahmadinejad-Mousavi debate and President Obama's speech in
Cairo, which was, according to our interlocutors, very well
received by Iranians.


2. (C) Four Mashhad drivers parked at the Gaudan customs area
south of Ashgabat who had just delivered several truckloads
of refrigerators spoke enthusiastically about the upcoming
election, and said they all planned to vote on Friday at the
Iranian Embassy in Ashgabat. Ali, one of the four,
identified himself as a Karroubi supporter and said that he
supports him because he finds him the most "believable" of
the candidates. This statement provoked a retort and brief
argument with another driver in the group Abolfaz, who said
he backs Mousavi and expects him to win against Ahmadinejad
in a second round of voting on June 19. A third, Mahmoud,
said that he also supports Mousavi, as do "most young people
and university students in Iran." When asked why, he said
that "he Iranian people want relations with the U.S., and
believe that Mousavi can best deliver on that aspiration."
He proceeded to playfully slap a fourth driver, Reza, on the
shoulder, saying, "Only this idiot still supports
Ahmadinejad." In defense, Reza pointed out that Ahmadinejad
had "reached out and formed good relations with many
countries in the world," and is the "best candidate for
Iran." Mahmoud and Abolfaz, invoking the Persian proverb
(akin to "charity begins at home),"A lamp from home should
not be taken to the mosque," said "Ahmadinejad is sending our
money abroad to Hamas and Hizbollah, instead of using it to
help Iranians who need it."


3. (C) An elderly Tehran driver named Abbas, also at Gaudan,
said he had not been following the candidates closely, but
planned to vote for Mousavi, who he said was a neighbor and
lifelong friend. "We played together as children," he said.
"He is a good man, and I will vote for him in Tehran on
Friday."


4. (C) Ibrahim, a driver from the town of Kuchan (located
between Mashhad and the Turkmenistan border) said he plans to
vote for Ahmadinejad, "because he represents the underclass."
He explained that past Presidents Khatami and Rafsanjani,
advanced the interests of, and were supported by the
"bourgeoisie," whereas Ahmadinejad, whom he called a "skilled
politician," had done much to help the poor and
disadvantaged. He also lauded him for bringing back the
"Islamic" in "Islamic Republic," whereas Rafsanjani, when he
was elected, had emphasized the "Republic" at the expense of
religious values of great importance to the people.


5. (C) Three ethnic Turkmen drivers from Golestan we found
resting in the shade of a tree in the industrial area of
Bedeu said that support for Mousavi is strong among Turkmen,
and that "everyone in Azerbaijan" supports him. Farshid, the
more talkative of the three, said he would vote for Mousavi,
because he supports the reformist platform. His companion,
Shamseddin, said that as a Turkmen, the election "matters
little" to him and that he did not plan to vote. All three
complained that their children have no opportunity to study
Turkmen, their mother tongue, in school, only "Persian,
Arabic and English." "Don't some children in America go to
Spanish-speaking schools?" they queried.

ASHGABAT 00000733 002.2 OF 002




6. (C) At another location in Bedeu, a group of eight drivers
from Azerbaijan province confirmed that support is strong for
Mousavi among ethnic Azeris. They hoped to be home in time
to vote on Friday, otherwise planned to vote at the Iranian
Embassy. Like everyone else we spoke with, they asked,
"Which candidate does America want to see elected?"


7. (C) COMMENT: This sampling of views showed both support
for Mousavi and a belief that he can and will be elected. It
appears that Mousavi has begun to cut into Ahmadinejad's
traditional working class base of followers. END COMMENT.
MILES