Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04YEREVAN934
2004-04-21 08:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

FM OSKANIAN DISCUSSES VISIT TO IRAN; GOI POSITIONS

Tags:  PGOV PREL AM IR 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000934 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL AM IR
SUBJECT: FM OSKANIAN DISCUSSES VISIT TO IRAN; GOI POSITIONS
ON IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, AND NUCLEAR ENERGY

Classified By: Ambassador John Ordway for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000934

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL AM IR
SUBJECT: FM OSKANIAN DISCUSSES VISIT TO IRAN; GOI POSITIONS
ON IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, AND NUCLEAR ENERGY

Classified By: Ambassador John Ordway for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)

--------------
SUMMARY
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1. (C) Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian discussed his April
11-12 visit to Iran with Ambassador April 13, providing
details on his meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister
Kharrazi. According to Oskanian, Kharrazi said that Iran is
not supporting Shia insurgents in Iraq and feels the current
situation in the country "will get worse." Oskanian told us
Kharrazi also said he believes that Pakistan has not been a
full partner in the war on terror and that the Taliban are
"making a comeback" in Afghanistan. Kharrazi further told
Oskanian that Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology is
peaceful and part of a five-year plan to boost domestic
energy production. End Summary.

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IRAQ
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2. (C) Oskanian told the Ambassador that Foreign Minister
Kharrazi told him that the Shia in Iraq had not requested
assistance from Iran. Oskanian said he had "the impression"
that Iran is in contact with the militant Shia groups.
Oskanian told us that Kharrazi indicated that the United
States had not asked for Iran's assistance in quelling the
Shia insurgency, but could provide help if asked. Oskanian
said Kharrazi believes that the situation in Iraq "will get
worse" and that Iran does not see how the current conflict
will "soon die down." Oskanian said he spoken with several
senior Iranian officials, including one from the intelligence
service, who said they hoped that American forces should stay
in Iraq "for a while" to provide stability in the region, but
stick to the June 30 timetable to transfer authority to a new
Iraqi government. With a successful transfer of power,
Kharrazi told Oskanian, the insurgents' position could be
undercut. Senior Iranian officials also told Oskanian that
they were prepared to help with the reconstruction of Iraq to
include energy, transportation and road projects, and
emphasized that they could achieve positive results in Iraq
if asked.

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AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN
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3. (C) Oskanian said he spoke briefly with Kharrazi about the
situation Afghanistan and Pakistan. Oskanian told the
Ambassador that the Iranians believe that the Taliban is
"making a comeback" in Afghanistan. According to Oskanian,
Kharrazi also said that Pakistan "is closing its eyes to a
lot of issues" and "is not being forthcoming" in all it knows
about terrorist activities.

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NUCLEAR ISSUES
--------------


4. (C) Oskanian told the Ambassador that he spoke at length
with Kharrazi about Iran's pursuit of nuclear energy
technology. Kharrazi assured Oskanian that the construction
of nuclear facilities is purely peaceful and part of a
five-year plan to boost domestic energy consumption.
Kharrazi told Oskanian that Iran currently exports half of
the oil it produces, but within two years production could
barely satisfy domestic demand. Kharrazi said that Iran
intends to become less dependent on domestic oil production,
and the building of nuclear power plants is part of this goal
along with the construction of 80 new hydroelectric projects.


5. (U) Minimize considered.
ORDWAY