OFFICE OF IRANIAN AFFAIRS JULY 1 IRAN ELECTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 068555 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUMR IR SUBJECT: OFFICE OF IRANIAN AFFAIRS JULY 1 IRAN ELECTION SPOT REPORT (U). In an effort to improve dissemination, following is the unedited Post election spot report prepared by the Department's Office of Iranian Affairs. These reports comprise input from all Iran Watchers as well as press reports. Note carefully that much of this information may be unconfirmed. Feedback on these reports is welcome; please send to NEA-Iran-DC-DL@state.gov. July 2: 3:00 AM in Iran: (U) Mousavi: Keep Protesting,: Mir-Hossein Mousavi has issued a fresh call to his supporters to maintain peaceful protests after the government confirmed the result of the disputed election. Mousavi used a message on his website, which also appeared on Facebook, to renew his call for the cancellation of the election. "We emphasize the position of Mir-Hossein Mousavi which is mentioned in the June 27 letter," Mousavi's Ghalam News website said. The candidate's supporters were urged to continue confronting the regime without provoking bloodshed. Among the recommended tactics was to continue the call of Allah-u Akbar from rooftops at night, writing Mousavi's name on cash bills and hijacking official holidays to make protests. (U) Report: Karroubi Aide Arrested: Mehdi Karroubi,s official website has announced that their website director and reporter Mojtaba Tehrani was arrested Saturday night as he left his office for his residence. No one has heard anything from him since Saturday, the report says. According to his family, Basij officials made an appearance at hi residence the day before his disappearance and confiscated his laptop and various files. (U) Mousavi Not Approved for Future Elections,: BBC Persian reports that Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, a conservative cleric and member of Iran's Guardian Council, claims the Council will not approve Mousavi as a candidate for any future presidential race. If people like me remain in the Guardians Council ,He said of a possible Mousavi bid, We will not approve him. (U) Ahmadinejad Post-Victory, Remarks: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed on Tuesday his re-election as a victory for the Iranian people and a defeat for the Islamic Republic's enemies. This election was actually a referendum. The Iranian nation were the victors and the enemies, despite their ... plots of a soft toppling of the system, failed and couldn't reach their aims. (U) Rezai's Spokesman Claims Ballots Had Similar Handwriting: Mohsen Rezai's unofficial spokesman, Omidvar Rasai, charges in an interview that "between 70 to 80 percent of the votes in some constituencies were written with the same pen and with the handwriting of a single individual." (U) Senior Cleric Releases Statement Supporting Mousavi: ILNA reports that Ayatollah Taheri-Esfahani (Esfahan,s former Friday Prayer leader) issued a statement in support of Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Taheri-Esfahani condemned "making instrumental use" of the Islamic founder's remarks. In his statement, he asks: "Is it a case of justice to see that an honorable and modest Seyyed (one who is a descendant of the prophet Mohammad) who until the last moments of Khomeini's life, had been a dear and close companion of that grand leader, is now considered to be a rioter and an agent of arrogance who must be punished? (U) Newsweek Journalist Reportedly "Confesses" to Aiding Protests: Fars News reports that imprisoned Newsweek reporter Maziar Bahari has "confessed" to "lying" and helping the post-election demonstrations. According to Fars, Mr. Bahari admitted that he was part of the huge capitalist machinery that sought to bring about a victory for Mr. Ahmadinejad,s rival, Mr. Mousavi. (U) Report: 35 Countries Recognize Ahmadinejad as Winner: According to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,s website, www. president.ir, 35 countries have recognized him as the winner of the presidential election: India; Tunisia; Malaysia; Lebanon; North Korea; Kuwait; Nicaragua; Comoros Cambodia; Senegal; Cuba; Belarus; Sudan; Syria; Libya; Algeria; Turkmenistan; Iraq; Kazakhstan; Indonesia; Bahrain; Yemen; Sri Lanka; Ecuador; Russia; Azerbaijan; Qatar; Tajikistan; Armenia; Oman; Turkey; Afghanistan; Pakistan; China; Venezuela (U) EU States Set to Recall Iran Ambassadors: Amid continuing anger across Europe over the arrests of British STATE 00068555 002 OF 003 embassy employees - linked by Tehran to the opposition protests over the disputed outcome of election - senior EU diplomats said a coordinated diplomatic protest would take place "within days. "Member states are now very focused on the idea of conducting a coordinated withdrawal of ambassadors this weekend if there has been no movement on the side of the Iranians," said one EU diplomat. "We need to see these (four) set free by Friday at the latest." (U) Khatami Urges Restoration of Public Trust,: Press T V reports that Former president Mohammad Khatami has called for effective measures to be taken to restore public trust and safeguard the Islamic establishment. In a Sunday meeting with members of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Khatami said that the breach of public confidence could shake the foundation of the Islamic establishment. Khatami said it was inappropriate to slander or arrest people in response to what he called "logical objection and civil behavior of a large segment of the society who protest against the election results." Khatmi suggested that forming an 'impartial panel' to look into the issue could remove any ambiguities and restore public trust. Citing his adherence to the principles of the Islamic Revolution, Khatami stressed the need for taking measures to ensure freedom of expression for all and by doing such, the establishment will ensure that the people will be present in the political scene in the future. Khatami added that the religious and democratic principles integrated into the Islamic establishment must be protected by the best possible approach. The nation-oriented establishment will become vulnerable if its social resources are lost, he warned. (U) Militant Clerics Association Comments on Election Results, Urges Peace: ILNA reports that that Militant Clerics Association (Majma-yi Ruhaniyun-i Mobarez) has issued a statement: In the election which took place, it could have been possible for this system to become stronger and deviated paths become clear from the right ones. And it (election) could have brought peace to the inflamed souls of an awake and aware nation. At the beginning of the fourth decade from the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the election could have shown that the democratic bases, in accordance with religion, had become stronger. And make the people feel that the outcome of the blood shed by thousands of martyrs, the pain and suffering of war veterans, former captives and their patient families is blossoming more and more each day. And Iran is moving towards progress, and becoming an Iran with respect, dignity, and spiritual and material rights. It is regrettable that this chance was missed and today, public trust, which is the main capital of the country and the Revolution, has been undermined. And a group of people, who have something to say or criticize as per their rights, are not convinced of the results. We believe that people's undermined trust, regarding the election results, cannot be mended by the opinion of a source that the majority of its members had already announced their clear support for a candidate (referring to Ahmadinejad). We are sorry that logical and benevolent solutions were not considered. And an impartial and professional board was not appointed to study (election results) and announce the truth. On the other hand, peaceful and graceful protests, in which people had a unique presence and proved their maturity just like the bright days of the Revolution, were attacked...Now after the high costs that have been paid, while we protest the election results, and believe in the right to protest, this should not cost the dear people any more. We believe that increasing enthusiasm and street protests are not the solution. And we expect the officials to make plans for ending the security and military atmosphere. And release the prisoners and stop unilateral and provoking propagation and officially recognize the right for civic protests and freedom of speech. And create an atmosphere, where benevolent intellectuals will be able to think in a calm atmosphere and find a basic solution to what has pushed the society to such an unpleasant state. (U) MP Says Communication Limitations Should Be Lifted: Mehr News reports that MP Hossein Sobhaninia stated on Tuesday that some communication limitations such as the disablement of SMS text messaging should be lifted and the country take a normal course again. Sobhaninia, who sits on the Majles National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, also said Today all political factions and activists should urge people to remain calm and maintain unity and consider the election dispute as a closed issue. He noted that the MPs member to the Majles security committee should study all the pros and cons of the election. He added one of the concerns of the committee is to help establish a normal condition in the country. (U) Tehran University Chancellor Denies Inviting 'Disciplinary Forces' Into Dormitories: In an interview with Mehr News, Farhad Rahbar, the chancellor of Tehran University, has denied remarks that during recent riots in STATE 00068555 003 OF 003 Tehran, the disciplinary forces had entered the University's dormitory his request. According to Mehr, the dean of Tehran University has said: "I became informed of the arrival of the disciplinary forces when they had already entered the dormitory and I was there; however I had made no request for their coming." (U) NIAC calls on Iranian Government to End Political Detentions and Violence Against Protesters: The National Iranian American Council remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran since the country,s disputed elections on June 12. Disturbing accounts of continued violence and widespread intimidation and harassment of Iranian citizens by the Basij militia and other elements of Iran,s security forces continue to be received from inside the country. NIAC is deeply concerned about the fate of hundreds of people detained in the post-election crisis, including opposition figures, human rights defenders, journalists, and protesters. Iranian authorities have carried out hundreds of politically-motivated arrests according to human rights organizations. Those detained are understood to be at a high risk for torture. NIAC calls on Iranian authorities to: --Immediately release opposition figures, human rights defenders, and all other persons arrested for contesting the election results. --Ensure those currently in detention are treated humanely. Provide detainees immediate access to their families, lawyers, and any medical treatment that may be needed. --Immediately halt state-sanctioned violence against the Iranian people. Ensure the public,s free movement, as well as the physical safety of Iranians in their homes. --Immediately restore communications and access to information, including cell phones and internet. Halt surveillance of private communications and retribution for participation in demonstrations. --NIAC calls on Iranian authorities to resolve its political crisis through free democratic debate and the recognition of the rights of Iranians to free speech and free assembly. --NIAC also calls on Iran,s trading partners to demand an end to government sponsored violence. --NIAC will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Iran as a major concern for the Iranian-American community. NIAC will work with governmental and nongovernmental actors in the United States and around the world to elevate this issue as a priority for the world community. ( CLINTON