Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT762
2009-06-17 11:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
IRAN: SUPREME LEADER KHAMENEI REPORTEDLY CALLS IN
VZCZCXRO1140 OO RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAH #0762 1681128 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171128Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2986 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5322 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3050 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2915 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3566 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3627
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).
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
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