Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAKU909
2009-11-20 12:58:00
SECRET
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
IRANIAN ACTIONS AGAINST SAUDI ARABIA, NEW ANTI-US
how-toVZCZCXRO4037 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHTRO DE RUEHKB #0909/01 3241258 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 201258Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2059 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH IMMEDIATE 0036 RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA IMMEDIATE 0009 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL IMMEDIATE 0178 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000909
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL PHUM PROP SA YM AJ IR
SUBJECT: IRANIAN ACTIONS AGAINST SAUDI ARABIA, NEW ANTI-US
MEDIA CAMPAIGN REPORTEDLY APPROVED BY SUPREME NATIONAL
SECURITY COUNCIL
REF: DUBAI 502
Classified By: POL/ECON Counselor Rob Garverick, Reason 1.4 (B and D)
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000909
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL PHUM PROP SA YM AJ IR
SUBJECT: IRANIAN ACTIONS AGAINST SAUDI ARABIA, NEW ANTI-US
MEDIA CAMPAIGN REPORTEDLY APPROVED BY SUPREME NATIONAL
SECURITY COUNCIL
REF: DUBAI 502
Classified By: POL/ECON Counselor Rob Garverick, Reason 1.4 (B and D)
1. (S/NOFORN) Baku Iran watcher met on Thursday evening
November 19 with an Iranian-Azerbaijani journalist/magazine
editor who has reported reliably in the past. The Iranian
provided the following information that he claimed to have
received from a network of sources, including staff of
members of the Supreme National Security Council (Shuraye
Aliye Amniate Melli) and a member of the Milli Majlis:
A. Possible Iranian Actions Against Saudi Arabia
-------------- --------------
2. (S) According to the source, the Security Council
discussed deteriorating relations with Saudi Arabia during a
meeting last weekend attended by President Ahmedinejad,
Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Judiciary head Sadeq Larijani, a
representative of Supreme Leader Khameini, and about a dozen
others. The council members reportedly discussed
increasingly common Saudi military intervention against
Iran-backed Sh,ia rebels in Yemen. The members agreed that
Iranian pressure on Saudi Arabia should be increased in order
to force it to desist from further military intervention and
interception of ships suspected of carrying arms and material
supplies to the Yemeni rebels.
3. (S) According to source, if Saudi Arabia does not soon
back down, the Council agreed to take punitive actions
against Saudi Arabia, drawn from a menu of options. One of
these, he said, is to stage violent "spontaneous" mass
demonstrations in front of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran
denouncing Saudi "massacre of Sh,ias," and posibly
culminating in a "student occupation" of the Saudi Embassy.
According to source, the argument was made that this strategy
would be a good way to distract, and even germinate regime
support, from currently alienated students and other young
people.
4. (S) Note: In a subsequent conversation on November 20,
source claimed to have access evidence that Iran is actively
supplying the Yemeni rebels. He promised to provide this
information, as well as information on how the supplies are
supposedly being delivered, in a follow-up meeting with Iran
watcher on November 23. End Note.
B. New Anti-American Campaign to be Launched
--------------
5. (S) The source said that this was the main agenda item
during the Security Council meeting. He said that the
Council approved a document arguing that the U.S. "is
planning to wage war" in order to save itself from the
current economic crisis. (Note: Source clarified that the
document did NOT state that this "new war" would necessarily
be against Iran; however that may have bee the implication.
End Note). Source said that, ased on this document, it was
decided to begin a major new anti-American P/R campaign
targeting supposed American war-mongering. Source said that
a decision was made to send appropriate instructions and
guidance to Iranian state-controlled media, detailing this
theme for incorporation in forth coming broadcasts. He added
that initial instructions related to this new campaign have
already started to go out to local media outlets.
C. Deceased Physician/Possible Tabriz Protest
-------------- -
6. (C) Source reported that the mother of the recently
deceased prison physician (retel) has "gone public" with
claims that he was murdered because he refused to sign a
document stating that he had approved prison rapes and
torture of prisoners. Source also related that unnamed
intellectuals and students in Tabriz are contemplating
staging a demonstration and/or some other form of
attention-getting activity during the forthcoming visit to
Tabriz of President Ahmedinejad(Note: It was unclear if these
notional protesters were aware that Turkish Foreign minister
would meet with Ahmedinejad in Tabriz on November 21. Iran
BAKU 00000909 002 OF 002
watcher is following the situation via Tabriz contacts and
will report if anything unusual occurs there. End Note.)
LU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL PHUM PROP SA YM AJ IR
SUBJECT: IRANIAN ACTIONS AGAINST SAUDI ARABIA, NEW ANTI-US
MEDIA CAMPAIGN REPORTEDLY APPROVED BY SUPREME NATIONAL
SECURITY COUNCIL
REF: DUBAI 502
Classified By: POL/ECON Counselor Rob Garverick, Reason 1.4 (B and D)
1. (S/NOFORN) Baku Iran watcher met on Thursday evening
November 19 with an Iranian-Azerbaijani journalist/magazine
editor who has reported reliably in the past. The Iranian
provided the following information that he claimed to have
received from a network of sources, including staff of
members of the Supreme National Security Council (Shuraye
Aliye Amniate Melli) and a member of the Milli Majlis:
A. Possible Iranian Actions Against Saudi Arabia
-------------- --------------
2. (S) According to the source, the Security Council
discussed deteriorating relations with Saudi Arabia during a
meeting last weekend attended by President Ahmedinejad,
Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Judiciary head Sadeq Larijani, a
representative of Supreme Leader Khameini, and about a dozen
others. The council members reportedly discussed
increasingly common Saudi military intervention against
Iran-backed Sh,ia rebels in Yemen. The members agreed that
Iranian pressure on Saudi Arabia should be increased in order
to force it to desist from further military intervention and
interception of ships suspected of carrying arms and material
supplies to the Yemeni rebels.
3. (S) According to source, if Saudi Arabia does not soon
back down, the Council agreed to take punitive actions
against Saudi Arabia, drawn from a menu of options. One of
these, he said, is to stage violent "spontaneous" mass
demonstrations in front of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran
denouncing Saudi "massacre of Sh,ias," and posibly
culminating in a "student occupation" of the Saudi Embassy.
According to source, the argument was made that this strategy
would be a good way to distract, and even germinate regime
support, from currently alienated students and other young
people.
4. (S) Note: In a subsequent conversation on November 20,
source claimed to have access evidence that Iran is actively
supplying the Yemeni rebels. He promised to provide this
information, as well as information on how the supplies are
supposedly being delivered, in a follow-up meeting with Iran
watcher on November 23. End Note.
B. New Anti-American Campaign to be Launched
--------------
5. (S) The source said that this was the main agenda item
during the Security Council meeting. He said that the
Council approved a document arguing that the U.S. "is
planning to wage war" in order to save itself from the
current economic crisis. (Note: Source clarified that the
document did NOT state that this "new war" would necessarily
be against Iran; however that may have bee the implication.
End Note). Source said that, ased on this document, it was
decided to begin a major new anti-American P/R campaign
targeting supposed American war-mongering. Source said that
a decision was made to send appropriate instructions and
guidance to Iranian state-controlled media, detailing this
theme for incorporation in forth coming broadcasts. He added
that initial instructions related to this new campaign have
already started to go out to local media outlets.
C. Deceased Physician/Possible Tabriz Protest
-------------- -
6. (C) Source reported that the mother of the recently
deceased prison physician (retel) has "gone public" with
claims that he was murdered because he refused to sign a
document stating that he had approved prison rapes and
torture of prisoners. Source also related that unnamed
intellectuals and students in Tabriz are contemplating
staging a demonstration and/or some other form of
attention-getting activity during the forthcoming visit to
Tabriz of President Ahmedinejad(Note: It was unclear if these
notional protesters were aware that Turkish Foreign minister
would meet with Ahmedinejad in Tabriz on November 21. Iran
BAKU 00000909 002 OF 002
watcher is following the situation via Tabriz contacts and
will report if anything unusual occurs there. End Note.)
LU