IRAN: SUPREME LEADER KHAMENEI REPORTEDLY CALLS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000762 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2019 TAGS: IR KDEM PHUM PREL TX SUBJECT: IRAN: SUPREME LEADER KHAMENEI REPORTEDLY CALLS IN MOUSAVI Classified By: Charge Richard Miles for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei met with presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi on June 15 to discuss the presidential election results and recent unrest involving Mousavi's supporters, according to Polish Ambassador to Turkmenistan Maciej Lang. Lang, who is a fluent Farsi speaker and previously served in Tehran, received this information from Iranian Ambassador Mohammed Reza Forqani. The Mousavi - SL Khamenei discussions centered on how to diffuse the situation and could lead to a partial recount. (NOTE: Lang relayed us this information before press reports that there would be a partial recount. END NOTE.) ¶2. (C) Forqani told Lang that Iranian officials are especially concerned because of the way the voting, at least officially, broke down, with Mousavi winning in the larger cities and Ahmadinejad receiving overwhelming support in the rural areas. The leadership sees this as a serious polarization in the country. They also find the protests to be eerily reminiscent of the Islamic revolution of thirty years ago, and they are worried. ¶3. (C) Lang describes the SL Khamenei as "very practical." Although Ahmadinejad was immediately announced as the winner, even before the vote was certified (clearly indicating Khamenei's support),Lang thought he might be looking for a way to walk back from supporting Ahmadinejad. Lang thought a partial recount would be a way for both sides to buy some time. If Mousavi's supporters are able to continue protesting, they could possibly get their way. Lang felt that the protests would not soon end. Even if the rallies died down, 40 days after the deaths of those who died in the protests over the week-end, there would be another protest. If deaths occur during the memorial protest, then 40 days later, there would be another march, etc. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Lang has been a good interlocutor on Iran issues. He soon leaves Ashgabat to be the Polish Ambassador in Kabul. He suggested that following his departure, we maintain contact with another colleague, who also served previously in Tehran. END COMMENT. MILES