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WikiLeaks

Frame grab released from Iranian state TV shows Baluchi rebel leader Abdulmalek Rigi under armed guard following his arrest.

According to a Baku-based Iranian source, the recent capture and transport to Iran of the Baluchi Jundollah separatist movement leader Abdulmalek Rigi is commanding the popular focus in Tehran today, and may be a political wild card. He “commented that “this is the only (recent) event that shows Ahmedinejad doing something competent,” and potentially popular. He added that the chatter inside the Iranian beltway and among opposition sources is that Rigi was captured by the Iranians in Afghanistan with crucial direct or indirect U.S. help (Note: we have also heard this claim from other Iranian sources. End Note). The source said that he had been in touch today with pro-Baluchi autonomists who made the same assertion, and told him that “the real story” behind Rigi’s capture will be released by the Baluchi organizations today or tomorrow.

Source: WikiLeaks

Reference	Created	Classification	Origin
10BAKU126	2010-02-25 05:18	SECRET	Embassy Baku

 

VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #0126 0560518
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 250518Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2423
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL IMMEDIATE 0209
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T BAKU 000126

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PTER AJ AF PK IR
SUBJECT: KHAMEINI REPORTEDLY COMMITTED TO LIMITED
“RECONCILIATION” DEAL; US ROLE IN RIGI CAPTURE
SUSPECTED/BLAMED

REF: BAKU 91 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Acting PolEcon Chief Shannon Runyon, for reasons 1.4 (b
and d)

Rafsanjani and Khameini “Reconciliation” Move?
——————————————— —

¶1. (S) According to a Baku-based Iranian source with
previously demonstrated access to information on inner-regime
and reformist politics, Rafsanjani has obtained a written
commitment from Supreme Leader Khameini to release large
numbers of prisoners, return Revolutionary Guard detachments
to their bases, and support the removal of election candidate
veto power from the Council of Guardians. Khameini’s
commitment supposedly came on the heels of his February 10
meeting with Grand Ayatollah Musavi-Ardebili (ref a), and a
series of related contacts with Rafsanjani and others. The
source explained that the “reconciliation” faction within the
ruling elite received a major boost “after the state forces
nearly lost control in Tehran during the Ashura protests.”
He asserted that the Ashura events greatly shook Khameini and
others who had been supporting Ahmedinejad or sitting on the
sidelines, creating space for an inner circle compromise.

¶2. (S) The source added that Revolutionary Guard Chief of
Staff Mohammed Ali Jafari (an officer allegedly “much closer
to Khameini than Ahmedinejad”) was scheduled to meet with
Rafsanjani and other members of the Council of Experts on
February 24 or 25. Source said this is an indication of
movement of a substantial portion of the Revolutionary Guard
away fromactive support of Ahmedinejad. He speculated that
the events of the next three or four days will considerably
clarify the political situation, which he claimed is working
against Ahmedinejad, and predicted that Khameini’s written
pledge will soon be made public.

RIGI Capture “Blamed” On US
—————————

¶3. (S) Source said that the recent capture and transport to
Iran of the Baluchi Jundollah separatist movement leader
Abdulmalek Rigi is commanding the popular focus in Tehran
today, and may be a political wild card. He “commented that
“this is the only (recent) event that shows Ahmedinejad doing
something competent,” and potentially popular. He added that
the chatter inside the Iranian beltway and among opposition
sources is that Rigi was captured by the Iranians in
Afghanistan with crucial direct or indirect U.S. help (Note:
we have also heard this claim from other Iranian sources.
End Note). The source said that he had been in touch today
with pro-Baluchi autonomists who made the same assertion, and
told him that “the real story” behind Rigi’s capture will be
released by the Baluchi organizations today or tomorrow.

¶4. (S) He asserted that the many reformists and most of the
opposition are dismayed by Rigi’s capture, any evidence
and/or widespread belief in a U.S. role in Rigi’s capture
would be interpreted as evidence that the USG is throwing
over the democratic opposition in the interest of doing a
deal with Ahmedinejad and his group. “This (the alleged US
assistance in capturing Rigi) will damage your position, not
buy you goodwill,” he claimed. (Note: Further illustrating
what may be initial paranoia about the arrest, another
Iranian source referred to Rigi’s capture as “yet another
intervention in Iran by outside imperialists.” End Note.)

LU