DEMARCHE REQUEST: URGING IRAN TO RESOLVE AMCIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001419 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2019 TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PROP PTER IR IT SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: URGING IRAN TO RESOLVE AMCIT CASES REF: SECSTATE 129480 Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Liam Wasley Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. C) Poloff spoke with Iran desk officer, Silvia Santangelo, regarding the cases of American citizens detained in Iran, and requested the GOI's assistance, per reftel. The Iran desk said that in the last two months, all human rights discussions, including consular discussions with the Iranians, have been conducted via the Swedish Embassy in Tehran, in the Swedes' capacity as EU President. In particular, she noted that the EU representation in Tehran had recently raised the case of Kian Tajbakhsh, whose sentence, she suggested, had been elevated to a death sentence. Poloff asked whether the GOI would nonetheless raise the issue of these Amcits in its bilateral discussions with the Iranians. The desk said she would discuss this issue and respond in the period ahead. ¶2. C) Santangelo further noted that there has been little bilateral dialogue in Rome in the last months, although the Italian Ambassador continues to meet with MFA contacts in Tehran. She attributed this to the great "nervousness" in the relationship, and to the imminent arrival of a new Iranian Ambassador in Rome, expected in January. ¶3. C) Asked about the content of bilateral discussions in Tehran, the Iran desk said that the Iranians had many complaints about "little things," mainly regarding the way in which Iranian protestors were being honored in Italy--she mentioned, in particular, Chamber President Fini's acceptance of a commemorative sculpture of Neda Sultan (press report that the statue was presented by MEK leader Maryam Rajavi). THORNE