AUSTRIA SEES GROWING RESOLVE ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000160

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/IR (SPRING AND MARWAHA),DRL/NESCA
(HUTCHINGS) AND P

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL IR AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA SEES GROWING RESOLVE ON IRAN

REF: A. STATE 12108 B. VIENNA 117

Classified By: DCM Chris Hoh for reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) DCM discussed ref A demarche with Stefan Lehne, MFA
Political Director, on Feb. 8. DCM told Lehne that the USG
had serious concerns about the human rights situation in Iran
and would continue communicating on high levels of the need
for other countries to speak out.


2. (C) Lehne, who had just returned from an official visit to
Washington, recounted that he had heard two theories on
Iran's behaviour. One theory was that Iran is politically
gridlocked and incapable of making decisions to compromise
and accept the IAEA deal, and the opposing theory was that
Iran is stringing the world along with skillful diplomacy
based on 6000 years of experience. After the Iranian Foreign
Minister's recent comments, Lehne said he had no doubt that
the second theory was invalid. Lehne postulated that the
Iranian government's recent rejection of the IAEA proposal
and issuance of death sentences against protestors, while
terrible, would have the positive effect of strengthening
international resolve to act, especially in keeping China and
Russia on board for sanctions by the UNSC.

3. (C) The GOA last month summoned the Iranian Ambassador to
deliver an EU-wide demarche on human rights (ref B),
referring specifically to the protection of human rights
defenders, the treatment of women involved in the opposition
protests, and the persecution of Ba'hai followers. According
to Gerrit Ach of the MFA's Human Rights department, the
Iranian Ambassador protested the EU's application of "double
standards" by interfering in internal political matters, and
he saw no need to stress the Ba'hai issue.
EACHO