IRAN: MFA OFFICIAL ON NUKES AND INTEREFERENCE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006877

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC IR TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAN: MFA OFFICIAL ON NUKES AND INTEREFERENCE IN
IRAQ


Classified By: PolMilCouns Timothy A. Betts for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (C) PolMilCouns discussed Iran's nuclear program Dec. 9
with MFA Deputy Director General for South Asia Aydin
Evirgen. Evirgen said that Turkey is continuing to warn Iran
that it must comply with the IAEA and cease any further
development of nuclear weapons capability. In the context of
the recent EU-3 brokered deal, Evirgen said that the Turks
had told the Iranians that they must reach agreement now with
the IAEA as Iran "has run out of chances." Evirgen asked
what the U.S. view was on the agreement. PolMilCouns
responded that we are skeptical, but willing to see if Iran
really does comply. Evirgen expressed concern that one
result of this international pressure might be to drive
Iran's activities (literally) underground where it would be
harder to track. Nonetheless, "no one is more concerned
about this issue than Turkey," he said. Finally, Evirgen
observed that Iran's leaders are using not just religion, but
nationalism to appeal to the Iranian people on issues like
nukes.


2. (C) Evirgen also said that Turkey consistently raises
Iran's interference in Iraq with the Iranians. According to
Evirgen, the main Turkish argument to Tehran is that a stable
Iraq is in Iran's interest, since the sooner Iraq is stable
the sooner coalition forces will leave the country. Evirgen
reported that the Iranians tell the Turks that they agree
about the importance of a stable Iraq, but they do not follow
up with credible action. He added that Turkey has dealt with
Iran as a neighbor for hundreds of years, and to this day
finds it hard to trust their word.


3. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN