ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON INVITING IRANIAN

S E C R E T STATE 060331 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2019 TAGS: ODIP PREL IR SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON INVITING IRANIAN OFFICIALS TO JULY 4TH EVENTS REF: (A) STATE 55537 (B) 03 STATE 67064 CLASSIFIED BY: U/S WILLIAM BURNS, REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 3. ¶2. (U) This cable provides additional guidance on ref A permission for posts to invite representatives of the Government of Iran to July 4 events. Posts may invite Iranian officials at the level of Chief of Mission or below at their discretion. ¶3. (C) ACTION: Posts in countries where Iranian diplomatic representatives are present are instructed to report by June 30, 2009, whether Iranian representatives have been invited and whether the Iranians have accepted or declined the invitation. ¶4. (C) This invitation is in line with President Obama's policy of engagement with Iran, and represents an effort to break down barriers to communication. Iranian officials should be welcomed, as any other guests. ¶5. (S) While an exception has been made to allow Iranian officials to attend the July 4 events, the existing contact policy with regard to the content and nature of USG interactions with Iranians remains in place (Ref B). While relaxation of the contact policy is under consideration, USG officials should not currently engage in substantive conversations involving policy issues or discuss bilateral relations with Iranian invitees. ¶6. (SBU) USG officials should restrict conversations with Iranian officials at July 4 receptions to general social pleasantries and draw as needed on the President's speech on June 4 in Cairo, taking guidance from the following quote: "Rather than remain trapped in the past, I've made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward... I recognize it will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect." ¶7. (U) For additional guidance, please contact the Office of Iranian Affairs at (unclassified) NEA-Iran-DC- DL@state.gov or (classified) NEA-Iran-DC- DL@state.sgov.gov. ¶8. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON