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P 071811Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1932
INFO IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

S E C R E T LONDON 000837 
 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER KPRP IA IR IS LE UK
SUBJECT: IRAN/ISRAEL: REGIME INSIDER REPORTEDLY PASSES 
TOUGH PRIVATE MESSAGE ON ISRAELI HOSTAGES 
 
REF: A. EMB LONDON (GAYLE) E-MAILS WITH NEA/IR 3/31/09 
        AND PREVIOUS 
     ¶B. 08 LONDON 002691 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, Jr. 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
 
 ¶1.  (S/NF) Summary: IRGC figure Salman Safavi (refs) on 
April 6 reportedly said Iran's senior leadership has "no 
interest in engagement" with a Netanyahu government on the 
subject of Israeli IDF hostages possibly held by Hamas, 
according to a regular Embassy London contact who said he 
has, at Israeli Embassy request, periodic contact with 
Safavi.  End Summary. 
 
Continuing Talks Between 
Israeli Embassy in UK and 
Safavi, Conducted via Gluck 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (S/NF) Rabbi Hershel Gluck, a UK citizen and regular 
participant in policy discussions hosted by the U.S. 
Embassy-supported NGO Next Century Foundation has previously 
told (ref b) London Iran Watcher (poloff) of Gluck's periodic 
private meetings held over the last several years in London 
with Ayatollah Syed Salman Safavi, brother of ex-IRGC 
commander and current Khamenei Military Advisor Rehman 
Safavi.  Gluck on April 7 told Poloff had just met with 
Safavi, at the behest of the Israeli Embassy, with the fate 
of Israeli IDF hostages possibly in the hands of Hamas or 
Hizballah the focus.  Gluck reports that Safavi speaks 
elliptically and that, though Safavi refers specifically to 
Hamas and Hizballah and to specific hostages as if they were 
alive, he has never offered Gluck unambiguous "proof of 
life."  Gluck told Poloff he continues the conversations with 
the realization that the IDF members involved may in fact be 
long dead. 
 
¶3.  (S/NF) Gluck stated that Safavi is aware of Gluck's 
relationship with the Israeli embassy, but that he is 
uncertain whether Safavi is aware that Gluck discusses with 
Poloff the substance of Gluck's private meetings with Safavi. 
 
 
A Tough Line From Safavi, Which 
Rabbi Sees as Bargaining Tactic 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (S/NF) In response to a recent Gluck query about IDF 
soldier Gila Chilat, who according to Gluck is believed by 
many Israelis to be a hostage of Hamas and whom Gluck had 
discussed with Safavi before, Safavi reacted furiously, 
referencing numerous recent Palestinian deaths in Gaza and 
saying "there can be no agreement after Gaza." Gluck said 
this explosion was the most negative he had ever seen Safavi 
in their multi-year relationship, but that this may well be 
posturing for negotiating purposes.  Gluck noted Safavi knows 
the origin of their meetings and could, if his principals in 
Tehran were truly disinterested, simply refuse to meet him. 
Gluck also noted Safavi was uncharacteristically late for 
their meeting, an omission which Gluck took to be part of the 
message.  Gluck also asked Safavi about missing Israeli Air 
Force airman Rom Arad: Safavi reportedly responded Arad was 
"not my responsibility;" Gluck said that, in the context of 
their ongoing conversations, Safavi meant Arad, in contrast 
to Chilat, is not being held by a client organization with 
which Safavi or his principals have a relationship. 
 
Visit London's Classified Website: 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom 
 
LEBARON