Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT205
2009-03-16 11:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
IRAN'S AMBASSADOR DEPARTS UNDER PRESSURE; EMBASSY
how-toVZCZCXRO0513 OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHRB #0205/01 0751144 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161144Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9790 INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0914
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000205
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND NEA/IR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PINR SCUL KISL IR MO US
SUBJECT: IRAN'S AMBASSADOR DEPARTS UNDER PRESSURE; EMBASSY
PREPARING TO CLOSE
REF: RABAT 0200
Classified By: A/DCM Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000205
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND NEA/IR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PINR SCUL KISL IR MO US
SUBJECT: IRAN'S AMBASSADOR DEPARTS UNDER PRESSURE; EMBASSY
PREPARING TO CLOSE
REF: RABAT 0200
Classified By: A/DCM Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: MFA DG Azaroual confirmed to A/DCM March 13
that the Iranian ambassador had departed Rabat earlier in the
week, and Iranian embassy staff are preparing for closure.
Azaroual also confirmed that there were clear domestic
political considerations involving legal Islamists, which
also have come out in the press. Azaroual expressed
satisfaction with and appreciation for his Minister,s
meeting with Secretary Clinton in Sharm el Sheikh as part of
the North African Three. End summary.
2. (C) Foreign Ministry Director General for Multilateral
(Arab and Islamic Affairs) Mohammed Azaroual confirmed to
A/DCM March 13 that the Iranian Ambassador Wahid Ahmadi had
left Morocco for Tehran March 11 on an official plane. The
Ambassador had given some press interviews after the rupture
of relations, and the MFA told him that he was no longer
accredited and that to speak to the press would be
inappropriate, Azaroual said. Ahmadi, a Kurd from Kermanshah
was simultaneously a trained diplomat and a mullah. Some
administrative personnel have been left behind to wind up
affairs, but once that is done the Embassy will be vacated.
Similarly, Moroccan staff in Tehran were preparing the
Mission for closure in the very near future.
3. (C) Elaborating on the reasons for the rupture (reftel),
Azaroual confirmed that Iranian contacts with political
parties were a contributing cause, including a now prohibited
party tied to the Belleraj case. As for the legal opposition
Party of Justice and Development (PJD),its members who had
gone to Iran were exploited by the Iranians, he said, and
after the Gaza conference the GOI flew them to Sudan to show
support for Bashir. Some PJD members had protested the
rupture, but those in the center of the movement had backed
the government, condemning Iran's efforts to undermine
Moroccan Islam.
4. (C) Contradicting widespread speculation in the
independent press, Azaroual said this was a carefully
considered decision, and Morocco was prepared to live with
the consequences for trade, which was strongly tilted in
Iran's favor anyway. Iranian traders in Casablanca had been
among the bearers of Shia doctrine here. Azaroual confirmed
our suspicions (reftel) that the report from Lebanon on
Morocco's commercial ties to Israel had come from Iran,
passing a press release with the original information from
the irib.ir website.
5. (C) Additional information appearing in the press, citing
security sources, linked the rupture to Iranian contacts with
mostly legal but more hard line domestic Islamists, such as
al Adl wa Ihsane (Justice and Good Works Organization or
JCO). Media cited the movement's interest in clerical
government and remarks by the leader's daughter, Nadia
Yassine about an Islamic republic. (Comment: We will
continue to follow developments and may next see al Adl in
the government's crosshairs. End comment.)
6. (C) Azaroual, a participant in Secretary Clinton,s
meeting with North African Ministers, said the Moroccan side
was pleased with the meeting and with Secretary's interest.
He would have liked to see both Libya and Mauritania present.
He hoped the Secretary would remain engaged and visit
Morocco soon.
7. (U) Local press reports as of March 16 that the imams
have been preaching against Shia thinking. There are also
reports that the Interior Ministry will be confiscating Shia
materials. In his pre-departure interview, the Iranian
Ambassador claimed he had delivered his government,s
response to the GOM request for clarifications. Press
commentators have either lined up solidly behind the decision
to break relations or expressed general bafflement -- some
even suggesting this may have been an impulsive decision out
of character with the generally considered Moroccan diplomacy.
8. (C) Comment: This comes at a time of renewed Palace
sensitivities over Gaza and an apparent uptick in interest in
coordinating with the Arab monarchs and Egypt. We will
continue to track closely this complex situation. End
comment.
*****************************************
RABAT 00000205 002 OF 002
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Jackson
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND NEA/IR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PINR SCUL KISL IR MO US
SUBJECT: IRAN'S AMBASSADOR DEPARTS UNDER PRESSURE; EMBASSY
PREPARING TO CLOSE
REF: RABAT 0200
Classified By: A/DCM Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: MFA DG Azaroual confirmed to A/DCM March 13
that the Iranian ambassador had departed Rabat earlier in the
week, and Iranian embassy staff are preparing for closure.
Azaroual also confirmed that there were clear domestic
political considerations involving legal Islamists, which
also have come out in the press. Azaroual expressed
satisfaction with and appreciation for his Minister,s
meeting with Secretary Clinton in Sharm el Sheikh as part of
the North African Three. End summary.
2. (C) Foreign Ministry Director General for Multilateral
(Arab and Islamic Affairs) Mohammed Azaroual confirmed to
A/DCM March 13 that the Iranian Ambassador Wahid Ahmadi had
left Morocco for Tehran March 11 on an official plane. The
Ambassador had given some press interviews after the rupture
of relations, and the MFA told him that he was no longer
accredited and that to speak to the press would be
inappropriate, Azaroual said. Ahmadi, a Kurd from Kermanshah
was simultaneously a trained diplomat and a mullah. Some
administrative personnel have been left behind to wind up
affairs, but once that is done the Embassy will be vacated.
Similarly, Moroccan staff in Tehran were preparing the
Mission for closure in the very near future.
3. (C) Elaborating on the reasons for the rupture (reftel),
Azaroual confirmed that Iranian contacts with political
parties were a contributing cause, including a now prohibited
party tied to the Belleraj case. As for the legal opposition
Party of Justice and Development (PJD),its members who had
gone to Iran were exploited by the Iranians, he said, and
after the Gaza conference the GOI flew them to Sudan to show
support for Bashir. Some PJD members had protested the
rupture, but those in the center of the movement had backed
the government, condemning Iran's efforts to undermine
Moroccan Islam.
4. (C) Contradicting widespread speculation in the
independent press, Azaroual said this was a carefully
considered decision, and Morocco was prepared to live with
the consequences for trade, which was strongly tilted in
Iran's favor anyway. Iranian traders in Casablanca had been
among the bearers of Shia doctrine here. Azaroual confirmed
our suspicions (reftel) that the report from Lebanon on
Morocco's commercial ties to Israel had come from Iran,
passing a press release with the original information from
the irib.ir website.
5. (C) Additional information appearing in the press, citing
security sources, linked the rupture to Iranian contacts with
mostly legal but more hard line domestic Islamists, such as
al Adl wa Ihsane (Justice and Good Works Organization or
JCO). Media cited the movement's interest in clerical
government and remarks by the leader's daughter, Nadia
Yassine about an Islamic republic. (Comment: We will
continue to follow developments and may next see al Adl in
the government's crosshairs. End comment.)
6. (C) Azaroual, a participant in Secretary Clinton,s
meeting with North African Ministers, said the Moroccan side
was pleased with the meeting and with Secretary's interest.
He would have liked to see both Libya and Mauritania present.
He hoped the Secretary would remain engaged and visit
Morocco soon.
7. (U) Local press reports as of March 16 that the imams
have been preaching against Shia thinking. There are also
reports that the Interior Ministry will be confiscating Shia
materials. In his pre-departure interview, the Iranian
Ambassador claimed he had delivered his government,s
response to the GOM request for clarifications. Press
commentators have either lined up solidly behind the decision
to break relations or expressed general bafflement -- some
even suggesting this may have been an impulsive decision out
of character with the generally considered Moroccan diplomacy.
8. (C) Comment: This comes at a time of renewed Palace
sensitivities over Gaza and an apparent uptick in interest in
coordinating with the Arab monarchs and Egypt. We will
continue to track closely this complex situation. End
comment.
*****************************************
RABAT 00000205 002 OF 002
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Jackson