IRAN-ROXANNA SABERI'S CONTINUED DETENTION

S E C R E T LONDON 000731

SENSITIVE NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2029
TAGS: CASC IR JA PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PROP PTER UK
SUBJECT: IRAN-ROXANNA SABERI'S CONTINUED DETENTION

Classified By: Classified By: Counselor for Political Affairs
Rick Mills, Reasons 1.4 (b,c,d)


1. (S/NF) The UK Embassy Tehran on 18 March raised Roxanna
Saberi's case at EU Heads of Mission in Tehran and asked the
Presidency to include her detention in the next EU demarche
on human rights to IRIG, London Iran Watcher learned on March
24 from FCO Iran Coordination Group. FCO also asked Poloff
about Saberi's possible Japanese citizenship and whether or
not USG and/or Japanese authorities will pursue this aspect
of her case.


2. (SBU/NF) Poloff suggested to FCO Iran Coordination Group
the possible inclusion of HMG views of the Saberi case in
Ambassador Adams' brief at the April 2 Iran seminar that the
Secretary and Foreign Secretary Miliband will chair.


3. (S/NF) Separately, Poloff met March 24 with Political
Director Mark Lyall Grant's Special Assistant Justin Bedford,
who referred to a previous outreach on the Saberi case to UK
Embassy in Tehran by PM Brown's chief of staff. According to
Bedford, Grant and senior HMG officials are quite aware of
and concerned about the Saberi case. Bedford said the UK
Embassy in Tehran will continue to follow up with Iranian
authorities.


4. (C/NF) In support of HMG efforts on Ms. Saberi's behalf,
we request any appropriate information from Department which
Embassy London could share with HMG on whether an approach to
Tokyo is being considered and on any advocacy efforts on her
behalf by other embassies in Tehran, coordination of which
with UK Embassy Tehran's efforts might, in Department's view,
work to Ms. Saberi's benefit.

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