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