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### Viewing cable 09BAKU132, HOW IRAN BUILDS INFLUENCE

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09BAKU132 | 2009-02-18 11:10 | 2011-06-26 00:00 | SECRET | Embassy Baku
Appears in these articles: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/04/17/112290/state-department-cables-reveal.html

`

    VZCZCXRO5334
    PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
    DE RUEHKB #0132/01 0491110
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    P 181110Z FEB 09
    FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0781
    INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

` `

    S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 000132

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2019
    TAGS: PREL KISL ECON EAID AJ LE IZ IR
    SUBJECT: HOW IRAN BUILDS INFLUENCE

    REF: A) 2008 BAKU 1018 B) 2008 BAKU 1069 AND PREVIOUS

    Classified By: POLECON COUNSELOR ROB GARVERICK, REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D)

    Summary
    ---------

    ¶1.  (S) Iranian outreach activities in Azerbaijan rest on a
    tripod of "social engagement" organizations, including an
    "Iran Assistance Society"; the Baku-based Iranian Culture
    House and its affiliates; and the Iranian Red Crescent
    society, based in "Iranian Clinics" in Baku and elsewhere.
    Important satellite institutions, such as charitable
    foundations administered by Iranians with Revolutionary Guard
    ties and Iranian-funded mosques (one led by a son-in-law of
    Ayatollah Meshkini), exist as de facto sub-sets under these
    three categories.

    ¶2.  (S) While geographic proximity and overlapping culture,
    language, and religion make Azerbaijan a particularly
    accessible target fo Iranian penetration and influence
    building, thestructure outlined above suggests a model for
    mehodologies of Iranian penetration in other Islamic
    countries.  Although the long-range implications and even
    goals of this Iranian effort are unclear the immediate goal
    appears to be the weaning awy of the Azerbaijani population
    from a "Western" to a more explicitly Islamic and pro-Iranian
    political and cultural orientation.  While GOAJ policy change
    may be an ultimate desired result, regime change does not
    appear to be the short-term objective of these activities.
    End Summary.

    Iran's "Outreach" Goals
    -----------------------

    ¶3.  (S) Note:  This cable is the first in a series of reports
    delving into Iranian influence-building activities in
    Azerbaijan; positioning and activities in Azerbaijan and the
    region of Revolutionary Guard or other regime-connected
    companies and individuals; related illicit trading
    activities; and similar issues.  End Note.

    ¶4.  (S) The following information is based on discussions
    with Iranian business figures, students, and academics based
    in Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijanis from several levels of
    society.  All sources claimed direct knowledge of at least
    some aspects of these  Iranian activities.  In terms of broad
    outreach, the main thrust of Iranian influence-building here
    appears to be directed primarily towards influence and
    network-building within the general population in an effort
    to bring Azerbaijan's society and people into a non-Western,
    "Islamic" cultural and political orbit sympathetic to Iran.
    This, rather than fomenting short-term regime change, may be
    Iran's immediate priority.  While Azerbaijan is perhaps
    unique among regional countries in sharing with Iran a large
    degree of cultural, historic, religious, and linguistic
    similarities, with minor revisions the practices discussed
    below may serve as a model for Iranian influence-building
    practices in the larger Middle East, and indeed the entire
    Islamic world.

    Iran's "Three-Pronged" Methodology
    ----------------------------------

    ¶5.  (S) Iran's influence-building and network-building
    efforts in Azerbaijan are low-profile, but substantial.
    Exempting the various diplomatic and quasi-diplomatic
    activities of Iran's large Embassy (regarded by several
    Azerbaijani interlocutors as increasingly ineffective
    compared to earlier years), Iran's influence-building effort
    inside Azerbaijan is largely three-pronged:

    --  distribution of financial assistance and micro-loans to
    Azerbaijanis via an "Iran Assistance Society," with offices
    in provincial towns; other Iranian foundations also disburse
    stipends or grants.

    --  extra-cultural proselytizing, scholarship-granting,
    pilgrimage-funding, and general networking activity centered
    on the Iranian "House of Culture" in Baku, and loosely
    related mosques and clerics; and

    --  medical assistance and intelligence personnel positioning
    by the Iranian Red Crescent and an associated "Iran Clinic" in Baku.

    The information provided below focuses on Iran's micro-loans
    and other financial assistance activities ("prong #1").
    Information on the other two "prongs" will be provided in
    Part II of this cable (septel).

    Iranian Micro-Loans and Financial Grants
    ----------------------------------------

    ¶6.  (S) In the last several months many elite Azerbaijani's
    have expressed concern to Iran watcher and other Baku EmbOffs
    about allegedly spreading pro-Iranian Islamicization in Baku
    and the provinces, partially fostered by Iranian financial
    grants and other "outreach" activities (see reftels).  While
    emphasizing this issue rhetorically, these sources typically
    have provided little beyond assertions to back up these
    concerns.  In the last few weeks Iran watcher has finally
    received information from a number of "grass roots" sources
    that provide some concrete information on what is occurring
    in practice in Baku and at least some provincial centers
    (though comprehensive information on Azerbaijan as a whole
    remains to be assembled).

    Iranian Loans in Practice: Generous Terms...
    --------------------------------------------

    ¶7.  (S) An Azerbaijani XXXXXXXXXXXX from a leading
    family in the (majority-Sh'ia) village of Lahej in North
    Central Azerbaijan, and his father, both of whom have been
    known well by Iran watcher for more than seven years.  These
    sources provided Iran watcher with details about several
    hundred thousand dollars in micro-loans and grants given
    recently by Iranians to Lahej residents.  They described
    these as loans and charitable grants given by a regional body
    known as the 'Iran Assistance Society (Iran Yardim Jamiati),"
    operating out of an office in the provincial capital of
    Ismaili (where the source's family also maintains a house).
    They claimed that over the last few months this organization
    has caused a stir in Lahej and the greater region by
    providing small shopkeepers, craftsmen, and other residents
    (including several of their relatives) with "business
    development" loans of up to 4,000 Manats (about $4300).
    ¶8.  (S) They described these as no-interest loans, with
    phased repayment delayed until two years after the date of
    the loan.  Noting that neither the GOAJ nor any other
    organization offers such assistance loans to broad numbers of
    local people, they asserted (somewhat cynically) that as a
    result of its generous micro-credits and charitable grants
    "Iran is becoming very popular in Lahej now." The sources
    said that loan applicants are not asked explicitly about
    their politics or religious activities, but claimed that
    prominent local religious conservatives and Hajjis (including
    the father's half-uncle) are frequently consulted about
    applicants from their area before loan decisions are made.
    They also opined that some of these conservatives have access
    to larger funds from the Iranians, citing improved houses,
    new cars, and other "circumstantial evidence."  Comment: We
    have heard widespread assertions that conservative Islamic
    networking "pays" in the provinces, with Sh'ia close to Iran
    gaining income as a result, while conservative Sunnis  obtain
    benefits from Turkish or Saudi sources.  As articulated, the
    attitude echoes the Soviet-era belief that becoming a
    "professional communist" could be a lucrative career path.
    End Comment.

    ¶9.  (S) The father added that the loan officers commonly ask
    applicants informally about conditions in their area, who the
    leading/most respected people are, whether they have made any
    pilgrimages, and similar questions, but did not give specific
    examples.  The student reported that he had been advised by
    his great-uncle to approach the Iranians for funding for a
    notional pilgrimage to a famous Iranian religious shrine in
    Mashad.  Comment: Much of this information coincides with
    claims provided separately to Iran watcher by Iranian
    students and other residents in Baku unknown to this source
    (see paras #11 - #13 below).  End Comment.

    ...But No "Easy Touch"
    ---------------------

    ¶10.  (S) Implying that grants are not given to all
    conservative comers, the XXXXXXXXXXXX related that a religiously
    conservative relative recently put a hejab (head covering) on
    his elderly sister, and submitted a request from her for a
    charitable grant.  The student said that grant was denied
    because the woman has four adult sons.  He added that many
    women who apply for assistance put on hejabs specifically for
    the purpose of their application (Note: hejabs are not
    traditionally worn in Lahej, though social practices are
    conservative in other respects.  End Note).

    Other Sources on Iranian Social Loans
    -------------------------------------

    ¶11.  (S) An Iranian student activist, a well-connected
    Iranian business figure, a former Azerbaijani Ambassador to
    Iran (Nasib Nassibili), and a former Iranian political
    journalist, separately commented on alleged Iranian regime
    affiliated activity in Azerbaijan.  According to these
    sources, the "Komiteh Imam Khomeini" (specified by the
    student) and other major Iranian foundations help poor
    families in Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and
    elsewhere, with the help of on-budget government grants as
    well as profits from commercial and real estate assets.  All
    asserted that (apart from being notionally subject to audits)
    these organizations have little constraint on their
    activities, and frequently works closely with the Iranian
    Revolutionary Guard and other Iranian security services.

    ¶12.  (S) All sources claimed that these organizations
    typically give no-interest credit to low-income Azerbaijanis,
    including Azerbaijani refugees resulting from the
    Nagorno-Karabagh conflict with Armenia, and other types of
    financial or in-kind assistance.  Two sources cited in
    passing the large Iranian Foundation of the Oppressed
    ("Baniyadeh Mustazafan") that owns a soap detergent factory
    in Baku (and many enterprises in Iran), and provides stipends
    to eligible Iranian residents in Azerbaijan and other
    disbursements.  The sources claimed that the head of this
    Foundation in Azerbaijan is a retired senior officer in the
    Iranian Revolutionary Guard (septel).

    ¶13.  (S) Gathering information on local issues, elites and
    religious figures was mentioned by virtually all sources as
    an important activity of these organizations.  Sources
    claimed that the organizations also seek to develop
    relationships with religiously conservative figures by
    offering them assistance and/or influence in granting
    assistance to others; scholarships for their children in Iran
    (or in Baku at the large Iranian-funded private school);
    funds for pilgrimages; employment or business opportunities
    with Iranians or Azerbaijani Iranophiles; etc.

    ¶14.  (S) Several sources explicitly depicted the
    organizations as clearing houses for identifying individuals
    amenable to training in Iran, who might become a future
    "vanguard" Iran-sympathetic/anti-Western political or
    religious cadres.  Valeh Aleskarov, Deputy Speaker of the
    Azerbaijan Majlis, and a figure well known to the USG,
    observed to Iran watcher that "it doesn't take many committed
    people to become an effective vanguard," and asserted that if
    even ten percent of those assisted by Iran became politicized
    Iranophiles "this wil be dangerous for us" as a politically
    secular country.

    DERSE

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