PRE G8 MEETING: FRANCE HARDENS POSITION ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000911

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR TSOU, MURRAY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL FR
SUBJECT: PRE G8 MEETING: FRANCE HARDENS POSITION ON IRAN

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Kathleen H. Allegrone, reas
ons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) President Sarkozy's Middle East Advisor Boris Boillon
told Political Minister Counselor July 3 that the French
believe there is "no longer any possibility of dialogue" with
the government of Iran. "Sanctions are the only weapon now,"
Boillon insisted. He said that the current sanctions regime
has been effective and therefore must be strengthened. By
weakening Iran economically and isolating it politically,
sanctions undermined popular support for the government. In
fact, sanctions played a significant part in precipitating
the election crisis in Iran, Boillon argued, by creating "two
of the three key ruptures" in the system -- between the
middle class and the government, and between the working
class and the government. He added that President Obama's
overture to the government of Iran helped to cause the third
rupture -- between the supporters of Moussavi, who sought to
re-engage with the West, and the rest of the clerical and
political establishment, who have until now largely resisted
this engagement. Since the government has used such ruthless
and despicable tactics to maintain control, Boillon said, the
GOF no longer believes it is possible to engage with them; it
is preferable instead, he asserted, to use sanctions to
continue to weaken them.


2. (SBU) Thus, Boillon reported, Sarkozy will be pushing
hard at the G8 Summit for a tougher stand on Iran, including
new sanctions. He explained that the French used to support
the deadline which they believe President Obama has
established for a re-assessment of the USG overture toward
Iran -- the end of 2009 -- but they have now decided to
conduct their own policy evaluation sooner, by September at
the latest. (NOTE: Two key elements of this policy review
are clear already, according to Boillon, as the French have
decided to oppose dialogue and to support the imposition of
stiffer sanctions. END NOTE.)


3. (SBU) Boillon also reported (strictly protect) that a
22-year-old French citizen was arrested July 2 at the airport
in Tehran on her way out of the country. The Iranians have
accused the woman, whom Boillon believes to be named
Clothilde Heiss, of spying. She managed to call the French
Cultural Attache in Tehran to inform him of her arrest and
detention in the notorious Evin prison. Boillon explained
that Heiss is a student in France who was temporarily
studying Persian in Tehran. He asked that the USG keep this
information very close hold while the GOF works with the
government of Iran to secure her immediate release. He
confirmed to POLOFF July 6 that she remains in Evin prison
and that the GOF continues to try to persuade the Iranians to
free her.
PEKALA