IRANIAN REFUGEE SEEKERS REQUEST HELP TO RESETTLE IN THE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BARCELONA 000067 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE (SAMSON/ZERDECKI),CA, AND S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/18/2019 TAGS: PREF PTER SP SUBJECT: IRANIAN REFUGEE SEEKERS REQUEST HELP TO RESETTLE IN THE U.S. BARCELONA 00000067 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Todd D. Robinson, Principal Officer, AmConsul Barcelona, State. REASON: 1.4 (e) ¶1. (S) Summary: An Iranian couple called the Consulate May 6 seeking help in obtaining refugee status in the United States. The couple, who claim to have information on Iran's terrorist activities, say they've been in Spain since March and believe their lives are threatened by Iran. The wife, Naghmeh Jafary Nia, traveled to the U.S. for an IV program in 2007. The husband, Robic Mehrabian (aka, Kambiz Khashchian),had an NIV application denied, we believe 221(g),in 2008. ORA has interviewed the couple twice, and they have been told they will likely have to go through a lengthy UNHCR process. End Summary. ¶2. (S) Naghmeh Jafary Nia (DPOB: June 14 1977, Abadan, Iran) and her husband, Robic Mehrabian (DPOB: March 28, 1978, Tehran, Iran) (aka, Kambiz Khashchian DPOB: June 25, 1973, Tehran, Iran) appeared May 7, 2009, and spoke with our senior ACS assistant. They requested help to obtain refugee status, and presumably resettlement, in the United States. ACS assistant alerted CG, who alerted ORAoff. ¶3. (S) On May 8 and May 15, 2009, ORA met with Jafary Nia and Mehrabian. They related their harrowing story of escape from Iran, and their eventual arrival at the Barcelona chapter of the International Red Cross where they have been since March 15, ¶2009. They said they feared for their lives here and requested more information and help with refugee procedures. They again repeated their desire to go to the United States. After obtaining an extensive brief on their backgrounds, ORAoff told them they would likely have to go through the UNHCR refugee process. ¶4. (S) The couple claimed they left Iran on February 22, 2009. They used false passports to get out of the country and traveled to Turkey and Morocco before ending up in Spain. Jafary Nia is a doctor who we believe traveled to the U.S. before to participate in an International Visitor program on infectious diseases. She specialized in microbiology at Shahid Beheshti University. ¶5. (S) Mehrabian, her husband, appeared under a false name, Kambiz Khashchian, and occupation, a doctor at the same university, when he applied for a visa in 2008, in Dubai. He confessed to us that he is a pilot (the first time he appeared at the Consulate in an airline uniform). He also had several airline ID's. He told ORAoff he left Iran after being pressured to fly arms to suspected terrorists for the Iranian government. ¶6. (S) Through some checking CG Barcelona, CG Madrid, and ORA verified the following: -- Jafary Nia apparently received a visa and took part in an International Visitor program in 2007 (Control no. 2007263 001 0001). -- Jafary Nia (Control no. 2008246 104 0004) and Mehrabian -- using the name Khashchian (Control no. 2008246 104 0003) -- both applied again in Dubai on September 2, 2008. It appears both were refused 221(g). At that time, both appeared to have received "A" referrals. -- Mehrabian admitted giving false information on his application. On his application he claims to be a medical doctor. The information he showed us indicates he is a pilot. Naghmeh insists all her information is correct. She displayed detailed knowledge of her scientific expertise during her interviews with ORA. ¶7. (S) Both claim they have knowledge of the inner workings of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and possibly bio-chemical programs, and are seeking resettlement in a country that can protect them from Iranian security services. ACS assistant has given them information on contacting the UNHCR, and ORA continues to meet with them regarding information on Iran. We will also be in touch with the regional refugee coordinator in Rome. ¶8. (S) Comment: There are several angles to this case that raise questions. First, a close look at the applications presented by Jafary Nia do not readily indicate that the women in the pictures are all the same person. The woman pictured in the 2007 application, when a visa was granted, does not appear to be the woman whose picture was taken at the port of entry. And, the woman represented in the 2008 application appears to be a different woman as well. Mehrabian/Khashchian has already admitted giving false information on his application. Second, BARCELONA 00000067 002.2 OF 002 there is little explanation for why they waited two and half months to contact us if they believed their lives were in danger. We will likely speak with them, as well as regional DHS refugee officials, in the coming days to see what the next course of action should be. Third, records show that both received signed "A" referrals for their 2008 applications. End Comment. ROBINSON