AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES IRAN WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000399 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2016 TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL IAEA UNSC IR AG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES IRAN WITH FOREIGN MINISTER BEDJAOUI REF: STATE 33729 Classified By: DCM Marc Sievers, Reason 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, delivered reftel demarche during a March 5 meeting with Foreign Minister Bedjaoui, leaving points in French translation as non-paper. Ambassador stressed that IAEA DG ElBaradei's report had confirmed U.S. concerns; Iran has not taken any of the steps called for in the February 4 IAEA Board resolution. Bedjaoui said he was not a scientist, but his understanding was that converting a civilian nuclear program into a military program was relatively easy. Ambassador noted the U.S. did not object to the peaceful use of nuclear power. Our concern was that Iran's civilian program in fact was a cover for a military program. ¶2. (C) Bedjaoui said Iran should be dealt with through a combination of patience and perseverance. Security Council action against Iran should be kept "as a sword of Damocles" hanging over the Iranians' heads. Bedjaoui expressed appreciation for Secretary Rice's statement that the Security Council was not going to impose sanctions at this time, calling it a good statement. Ambassador commented that he understood the Algerian position to be that the Iranian nuclear file should be handled within the IAEA. The problem was that the IAEA did not have the capacity to deal with Iran since Iran was refusing to cooperate. Bedjaoui assured Ambassador that he would study the non-paper carefully. ¶3. (U) Note: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi visited Algiers March 7 and met with Prime Minister Ouyahia. Araqchi reportedly gave Ouyahia a letter from President Ahmadinejad to President Bouteflika. Although Algerian media coverage of Araqchi's visit was minimal, the Iranian News Agency quoted Araqchi as stating that Algeria shared Iran's belief that the issue should be resolved within the IAEA. ERDMAN