Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10VIENNA196
2010-02-22 15:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
IRANIAN CONTACTS TELL AUSTRIAN DIPLOMAT THERE MAY
how-toVZCZCXRO0228 OO RUEHBC RUEHKUK RUEHTRO DE RUEHVI #0196 0531536 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 221536Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4217 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000196
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR U/S BURNS, NEA (LIMBERT, BURNS),AND CA; NSC
FOR MAGSAMEN AND TALWAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2020
TAGS: CASC PREL IR AU
SUBJECT: IRANIAN CONTACTS TELL AUSTRIAN DIPLOMAT THERE MAY
BE PROGESS IN AMCIT HIKERS CASE
REF: VIENNA 138
Classified by: Econ/Pol Counselor Philip Kaplan (acting) for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000196
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR U/S BURNS, NEA (LIMBERT, BURNS),AND CA; NSC
FOR MAGSAMEN AND TALWAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2020
TAGS: CASC PREL IR AU
SUBJECT: IRANIAN CONTACTS TELL AUSTRIAN DIPLOMAT THERE MAY
BE PROGESS IN AMCIT HIKERS CASE
REF: VIENNA 138
Classified by: Econ/Pol Counselor Philip Kaplan (acting) for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Michael Postl, former Austrian Ambassador to Iran,
informed Vienna Tri-Mission POLOFF February 22 by email that
contacts in Tehran (NFI) had complained to him the previous
week about recent publicity concerning the three Amcit hikers
detained in Iran. The Iranian contacts noted that Esfandiar
Rahim Mashaie, chief of staff to President Ahmadinejad, had
told Postl in Geneva on February 1 that he wanted to resolve
the issue quietly (reftel). Postl said he replied that as
far as he understood, it had been the families of the hikers,
not the USG, that had most recently brought attention to the
matter (Note: Postl appears to be referring to a letter sent
to President Ahmadinejad by the mothers of the hikers. End
Note). The USG had not made a formal demarche through the
Swiss recently, and therefore the Iranians should follow
through on Mashaie's pledge to seek the hikers' release,
Postl argued.
2. (C) According to Postl, the Iranian contacts followed up
on February 22 with a message stating that there would be
positive movement with regard to the hikers in the coming
days or weeks.
3. (C) Comment: Postl was not particularly optimistic that
the Iranians would follow through on this latest promise of
progress, but wanted to pass this message in the hope that it
was given to him in earnest.
EACHO
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR U/S BURNS, NEA (LIMBERT, BURNS),AND CA; NSC
FOR MAGSAMEN AND TALWAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2020
TAGS: CASC PREL IR AU
SUBJECT: IRANIAN CONTACTS TELL AUSTRIAN DIPLOMAT THERE MAY
BE PROGESS IN AMCIT HIKERS CASE
REF: VIENNA 138
Classified by: Econ/Pol Counselor Philip Kaplan (acting) for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Michael Postl, former Austrian Ambassador to Iran,
informed Vienna Tri-Mission POLOFF February 22 by email that
contacts in Tehran (NFI) had complained to him the previous
week about recent publicity concerning the three Amcit hikers
detained in Iran. The Iranian contacts noted that Esfandiar
Rahim Mashaie, chief of staff to President Ahmadinejad, had
told Postl in Geneva on February 1 that he wanted to resolve
the issue quietly (reftel). Postl said he replied that as
far as he understood, it had been the families of the hikers,
not the USG, that had most recently brought attention to the
matter (Note: Postl appears to be referring to a letter sent
to President Ahmadinejad by the mothers of the hikers. End
Note). The USG had not made a formal demarche through the
Swiss recently, and therefore the Iranians should follow
through on Mashaie's pledge to seek the hikers' release,
Postl argued.
2. (C) According to Postl, the Iranian contacts followed up
on February 22 with a message stating that there would be
positive movement with regard to the hikers in the coming
days or weeks.
3. (C) Comment: Postl was not particularly optimistic that
the Iranians would follow through on this latest promise of
progress, but wanted to pass this message in the hope that it
was given to him in earnest.
EACHO