SECRET iran: information request The purpose of this tasking is to give an assessment of lran's current interests and activities in South Africa. and give guidance as to elaborate and gain on information collection efforts in order to determine the full extent of their activities. Reference is made throughout report to information received from Cl20. Doc dated 11 Jan 08: The Iranian Department of Foreign Affairs conducted an internal conference/discussion in the course of the last six months of 2007. This conference addressed the issue of Iran's strategic geopolitical relations, and emanating from that as a matter of policy a process of aligning itself closer to China, began. China?s quiescent backing of Iran in the course of its ?argument? with the United States concerning its nuclear program, together with direct backing from the Russian Federation in terms of the concrete workings of its civilian nuclear program, may be two of a much more complex set of factors that has brought Iran to this point. Furthermore, Iran?s Africa policy would also have given a boost as a component part of the strategic reorientation of Iran's foreign relations. Did this strategic geopolitical policy translated into their intelligence activities in SA and how did the MOIS go about it? Will this change after the re-election of the President How is their shifting towards China realising in SA as well as with the Russians? Doc dated 11 Jan 08: lran has been of the opinion that President Jacob ZUMA has good relations with Muslims It has been stated that a more popular South African president with a leftist political orientation (or. at least the backing of leftist forces in the ANC alliance) is much more acceptable than a Western oriented businessman who will in all likelihood follow blindly in the footsteps of the MBEKI administration when it comes to macro-economic policy.) What is their most recent opinion of the new SA Government? Doc dated 13 March 08 indicated in this report that people in Iran, and some Iranian government officials are not very impressed by the leadership of Mr. AHMADINEJAD. He says that the president is much more popular outside Iran than he is inside. The internal opinion is very much defined in the following way: That Mr. AHMADINEJAD and his advisors have broken down all the bridges his predecessor. Mr. KHATTAMI with his discourse on the ?dialogue among civilisations'. tried to build to the outside world The fact that Iran has not had any effective diplomatic relations with the USA since 1979 has had a negative impact because there are no formal channels through which political disputes or differences can be resolved That the current round of sanctions. inspections of ahlpmentagolng into related military strategies led by the USA In the Middle East are" doing major Mage to_lran?s economandwciety i . 1i He is of the opinion that the current lranlan teaponeible for leading Iran into a very tight'spot of lnternational'isolation. After President re~eletion as President what mm current feeling? Will his re-election effect MOIS Operations in SA and Africa (also seen in light of the sacking of Gholam Hossein Mohseni the head of the M018 on 12 June 2009 as well as the dismissal of Intelligence Minister Mohsen EZHEIE (27 June 2009) and subse uent a ointment of Ma?id ALAVI as acting Intelligence Minister on 28 June 2009). Who is his successor? SECRET SECRET 2 Doc dated 16 April 08: it is stated in this report that Iran is political positioning themselves within the South African foreign policy framework and that the Embassy in SA is following this initiative. It is implied that their deliberations on strategies to promote and boost the image of lran will necessitate engagements With media oiVil-sOCiety governmental. and business networks in the country. It obviOusly makes South Africa an important target in Iran's Current struggles in the world political system. Several questions about the structure and reach of the Independent Newspaper group were posed. If lran is seeking to posnion itself in South Africa? the strategy may be complicated by this country's own political transition problems in the ruling party. This may to some extent explain their urgent need to develop deeper inSight into the workings of the South African media and avenues at the disposal of the embassy to extend its reach and consequently in?uence} What developments took place in relation to their influencing activities since the reporting date? Doc dated 13 May 08: Interest has been shown to meetjournalists from SABC radio to access leading figures in the local community. g. to leaders of cultural organizations and to arrange for a dinner/s where the ambassador can interact with other influential people such as net-?Spaper editors Was this avenue operationally pursued? Doc dated 3 as i? In discuSSions on the issue of Xenophobia. many questions about the anti-US sentiments in South Africa and Southern Africa were asked It is mentioned the fact that SADC leaders rejection of the establishment of bases for Pentagon?s African Command in SADC member states territory, may be creating a situation where the US will engage in covert actiVities to destabalise countries opposed to its security paradigm in Africa. What kind of covert activities? Did the person elaborate on this? 11 June 2008- The company does exist and the co directors of re nd used mation on him was and What is the links to At the time there has been a request or investigation from the operational structures? Was this investigation done and if so, what transpired? as a suspected -kii. - .- lso a suspected MOIS-memberlAgent. Another partner is who used to be a senior official in the South African Departm usry. ould more inf i be obtained? 00* have links to is opening an office in ie Waterkloof area speCific location not yet determined which IS funded rent etc by the Iranian Embassy out would operate under its own name Was this information ever operationally pursued by an investigation? SECRET SECRET 3 18 November 2008 A new official at the embassy has been appoin Embassy. The discussions centred on changes in political landscape. Wmentioned in the course of the conversation that he is a marketing expert. This was said in the context of a discussion we had on dynamics in Africa's mining sector. He expressed a lot of interem 'nformation on developments in mining. and related political dynamics. Like earlier in 2008. one of his ?rst business?related questions in the African context dealt with lsraeli activity and in?uence in Africa. since then? Seeing that all the Iranian Diplomats si hivi requested pecifically regarding the Israeli activities in Africa was asked to ask them speci?cally in what regarding the lsraeli's they are interested in. What is latest on this? private compa y, in order 0 eve op usmess between Iran and South Africa. Concern is expressed in the report that be a front company of the Iranian MOIS. What ent status of nd what do we know of the activities of Why do we suspect to be a front for ing being done operationally regarding the rumours regarding nvironmental scanning, etc? 1 June 2009 The lranian Embassy has undergone a clean-up and several diplomats whose loyalty - . - - Presin AHMA A -- - stioned, - - eperson a IS em ?i local Revolutionary Guard. has a gambling problem an IS cosey wa aso anne techement in South Africa but because 0 olitical contacts, he could not. is not compromised by building up bad dept. Some diplomats. name was mentioned. are allegedly concentrating more on their own time on the Embassy/lran?s interests. The declared MOIS- member. has been active liaising with his counterparts from African Countries in out me. purpose is to promote Iran as Iran wants to expand their presence, trade etc in SADC as well as in the AU. Iran is actively trying to exert its influence in the previous USSR Muslim Countries. Turkmenistan. Azerbaijan. Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan that forms together with the Russian Federation the countries of the Caspian rim. The purpose is to neutralise the Russian in?uence on these countries. 2009.06-09 SECRET