TURKEY/IRAN NUCLEAR: TURKEY TOUGHENS STANCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000737 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016 TAGS: PREL KNUC IR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAN NUCLEAR: TURKEY TOUGHENS STANCE ON IRAN DURING AMB SCHULTE VISIT REF: ANKARA 647 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (SBU) Speaking to the press on February 15, MFA spokesman Namik Tan previewed the visit by Ambassador Schulte and the USG Iran briefing team (reftel). Using language stronger than in previous government statements, Tan said that "the crisis between Iran and the international community has reached dimensions that we are treating with concern....We are concerned by Iran's reaction to the (IAEA's) resolution as well as by its decision to halt its voluntary compliance with the Additional Protocol and to resume nuclear activities." In further remarks, Tan noted that Iran's recent actions had caused the international community to lose trust. He urged Iran to "work in full and transparent cooperation with the IAEA and to take additional confidence building measures in order to make up for this lack of trust." The February 16 press is uniformly interpreting Tan's remarks as a hardening of the GOT's position towards Tehran. ¶2. (C) Meanwhile, a nine-person delegation from the Turkish Parliament's "Turkey-Iran Friendship Caucus," consisting of deputies from the ruling AKP as well as opposition CHP, plan to travel to Iran on February 24. We and Ambassador Schulte will see Parliamentary leaders on February 16 and will convey key messages. The Iranian ambassador in Ankara has been spreading word, which the MFA refuses to confirm or deny, that Foreign Minister Gul plans to travel to Tehran in coming weeks. The Iranians have also been busy lobbying GOT officials and MPs alike on the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programs. WILSON