VZCZCXRO0846
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHDIR #0032/01 1300716
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P R 100716Z MAY 07
FM IRAN RPO DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0116
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0068
RUEHAD/USDAO ABU DHABI TC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDIR/IRAN RPO DUBAI 0109

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 IRAN RPO DUBAI 000032 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR GAYLE; PARIS FOR WALLER; BERLIN FOR PAETZOLD; BAKU 
FOR HAUGEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  5/10/2027 
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR PINR
SUBJECT: SUPREME LEADER'S SON: THE POWER BEHIND THE ROBES? 
 
REF: A. RPO DUBAI 0016; B. RPO DUBAI 0014; C. RPO DUBAI 0012 
 
RPO DUBAI 00000032  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Jillian L. Burns, Director, Iran Regional 
Presence Office, Dubai, UAE. 
REASON: 1.4 (d) 
 
1.(S/NF) Summary:  An Iranian doctor, reportedly very close to 
conservative circles in Iran, claimed that the Supreme Leader's 
son Mojtaba holds extremist views and wields significant 
influence in the Supreme Leader's office.  The doctor indicated 
that while Mojtaba essentially derives his power from his 
father's position, he is building his own power base.  The 
Supreme Leader allegedly has begun chemotherapy, after resisting 
the treatment for some time.  This is a single source account 
and his direct access to such information cannot be confirmed 
but is credible.  End summary 
 
2.(S/NF) An Iranian doctor who reportedly is close to 
conservative circles in Iran, particularly former Foreign 
Minister Velayati, told IRPO Director May 7 that Supreme 
Leader's son Mojtaba plays a direct -- and negative -- role in 
Iranian policy-making.  The source's views on nuclear negotiator 
Mousavian's arrest and other views on the domestic situation to 
be provided septel. 
 
Influence of Supreme Leader's son 
--------------------------------- 
 
3.(S/NF) The doctor claims that Supreme Leader Khamenei's son 
Mojtaba is exercising real power over his father's 
decision-making.  The source said Mojtaba is around 33 and the 
third of four sons.  He claims Mojtaba is a true hardliner, a 
former student of Ansar-e Hizballah leader Hussein Allah Karam, 
although not a member of the group himself.  He reportedly 
studied theology but does not wear cleric's clothing.  According 
to the source, Mojtaba is the only son of the Supreme Leader who 
is active in politics. 
 
4.(S/NF) The doctor, who describes himself as religious 
conservative, said Mojtaba has the type of extremist mindset 
that cannot be persuaded towards pragmatism.  The doctor blamed 
Mojtaba for much of what he saw as the negative aspects of 
Iran's policy.  The source gave no indication that Mojtaba's 
grip on power was lessening.  When IRPO director raised US 
certainty of Iran's assistance to groups attacking US soldiers 
in Iraq later in the conversation, the doctor inferred that 
Mojtaba is likely driving Iran's Iraq policy.  He contrasted 
Mojtaba with IRGC Commander Safavi, who the source believes is a 
much more pragmatic actor. 
 
Power linked to father's? 
------------------------- 
 
5.(S/NF) The doctor said that Mojtaba mostly derives his power 
from his father, and he would likely lose this power if his 
father departs the scene.  The doctor claimed that the Supreme 
Leader is now undergoing chemotherapy, after earlier refusing 
the treatment out of fear that people would see evidence of his 
illness, and that he has switched to a vegetarian diet. 
(Comment: One press report noted Mojtaba as a possible 
replacement for his father, although no contacts have mentioned 
this possibility.  End comment) 
 
6.(S/NF) The doctor cautioned, however, that Mojtaba has 
reportedly worked to shore up his own political base over the 
past 10 years, installing associates from Mashhad into positions 
of authority (NFI).  These people reportedly remain loyal to 
Mojtaba and have developed "specialized" skills, making them 
hard to replace. 
 
King-maker? 
----------- 
 
7.(S/NF) Although Mojtaba holds no formal position, the source 
claimed that even ministers who go to the "Beit," as the office 
of the Supreme Leader is called, are deferential to Mojtaba. 
The doctor says the Beit suffers from the worst type of 
hypocrisy.  He claims Mojtaba often acts without his father's 
foreknowledge, but his father indulges him and protects him. 
Allegedly, the Supreme Leader was furious a few years ago when 
he learned his phone was being monitored, but when he found out 
his son was responsible, he let it pass. 
 
8.(S/NF) The doctor claimed, without citing sources, that 
Mojtaba decided that the Beit would switch its backing to 
 
RPO DUBAI 00000032  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Ahmadi-Nejad for president when Mojtaba could not come to an 
agreement with first choice candidate Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf 
over who would get positions in the new government.  However, 
Ahmadi-Nejad reportedly broke some of his promises to Mojtaba, 
as he has to other supporters (Note: See Ref D citing the same 
source.  Endnote), and the two are no longer on good terms.  The 
doctor also claimed that Mojtaba secured for his father-in-law 
Qolam Ali Haddad-Adel the position of Majles speaker, despite a 
lack of qualifications. 
 
9.(S/NF) Comment:  The doctor, a supporter of the regime but a 
critic of Ahmadi-Nejad, clearly sees Mojtaba as a negative 
influence on Iranian policy.  He said that generally people in 
Iran accept the fact that "Aghazadeh" or sons of clerics will 
profit from their connections and enrich themselves in business, 
but Iranians are uncomfortable seeing them accrue a political 
role in the Islamic Republic.  We note that this is a single 
source report about Mojtaba Khamenei, and other contacts have 
not mentioned him as an important source of power in Iran.  We 
will pulse other contacts to check for collaboration. 
BURNS