DEMARCHE REQUEST: URGING IRAN TO RESOLVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001084

SIPDIS

NEA/IR, P, NSC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PROP PTER CASC
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: URGING IRAN TO RESOLVE
MISSING/DETAINED AMCIT CASES

REF: SECSTATE 94757

Classified By: DCM Elizabeth L. Dibble, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) DCM Dibble conveyed reftel points to Director General
for the Middle East Cesare Ragaglini, who promised to discuss
them with the Iranian Ambassador to Rome at the earliest
opportunity.


2. (C) Separately, Poloff also delivered points to Iran desk
Silvia Santangelo and to Office Director Sergio Quierolo
Palmas. Santangelo was receptive to points, and noted that
Italy is already at work, with the EU, on the cases of French
researcher Clothilde Reiss and of the British embassy
employee still in custody.


3. (C) Office Director Quierolo Palmas commented on the
difficulty of approaching the Iranians on cases related to
third country nationals, noting that the Iranian diplomats
immediately bristle and ask "why are you discussing this with
us?" He suggested that the MFA would seek an opportunity to
fold these points into another discussion with the Iranians.
In his view, the case of the three American hikers ought to
be "easy," while those of the dual nationals were more
problematic.


4. (C) On September 22, the Iran desk reported that the
discussion with the Iranians had not yet taken place, but
that DG Ragaglini expected to discuss the issue with the
Iranians in NY during UNGA.
THORNE