PRC/IRAN: VFM LU GUOZENG'S TRIP TO IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 004023

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2016
TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP IR EU AORC CH
SUBJECT: PRC/IRAN: VFM LU GUOZENG'S TRIP TO IRAN


Classified By: Charge d'Affairs David Sedney. Reasons
1.4 (b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Lu Guozeng focused during
his February 24-26 visit to Iran on discussing the
gravity of the international situation that Iran faces
with regard to the nuclear issue, according to MFA
Arms Control and Nonproliferation Department Dputy
Director General Wang Qun. Lu deliveredstrong
messages to Tehran, warning it to adopta flexible
position and take resolute steps before the March 6
IAEA Board of Governors meeting. Iran contends that
increased pressure from the IAEA, the EU-3 and the
United States will be counterproductive and Iran is
not afraid of sanctions. The Iranians did tell the
Chinese for the first time, however, that they view
the Russian proposal as "acceptable," although
technical details remain to be worked out, Wang said.
End Summary.


2. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Lu Guozeng traveled to
Tehran February 24-26 to urge the Iranian Government
to take positive steps to resolve the nuclear issue,
according to MFA Arms Control and Nonproliferation
Department Deputy Director General Wang Qun. In a
March 3 readout to Polmincouns, Wang said that VFM Lu
had long, intense discussions with Iranian President
Ahmadinejad, Secretary General of the Iranian Supreme
Security Council Ali Larijani and Vice Foreign
Minister Safari. VFM Lu delivered four messages to
the Iranians, according to Wang. First, the PRC
insists that Tehran realize the gravity of the current
situation. Second, Iran's unilateral moves since
October 2005 have created the current situation and
China is not in favor of Iran's actions. Third, Iran
should take resolute steps in the right direction
before the March 6 IAEA Board of Governors (BOG)
Meeting and should fully suspend its uranium
enrichment activities. Fourth, the PRC urges Iran to
seriously consider the Russian proposal and explicitly
state its acceptance of the proposal by March 6.


3. (C) According to Wang, the Iranians responded
strongly to Beijing's points, defending their
position. They claimed that during the three years
that they suspended nuclear activities to negotiate
with the EU-3, they received nothing in return and
therefore are compelled to restart research and
development activities. Iran insists that it must
safeguard its right to future uranium enrichment
activities in order to protect its right to the
peaceful use of nuclear energy. Iran is willing to
discuss with the EU-3 the temporary suspension of its
enrichment program and would consider returning to the
moratorium for a two or three year period, but during
this period the right to conduct small scale research
and development activities must be retained. Finally
Iran contends that increased pressure from the IAEA,
the EU-3 and the United States is counterproductive
and that Iran does not fear sanctions.


4. (C) Wang said that Iran is giving careful
consideration to the Russian proposal, which it
described for the first time as "acceptable," adding
that technical details remains to be worked out.
Iran's positive attitude toward the Russian proposal
shows that there is some flexibility in Tehran's
position, Wang claimed.


5. (C) VFM Lu's overall impression is that Tehran is
anxious about its situation, although it remains
unwilling to give up its nuclear research and
development activities, according to Wang. He said
that Iran is aware that the current situation does not
benefit it and Tehran is eager to find a solution.
Wang stated that there are political factions in Iran
that have shown greater flexibility towards finding a
resolution to the impasse and that these "forces
should be worked on."


6. (C) Wang concluded his readout by imploring the
United States to play a constructive role and not make
any moves that would escalate the situation. Despite
the gravity of the situation, based on VFM Lu's trip
Beijing believes there is still room for a diplomatic
solution and that all parties should keep diligently
working towards a solution. Polmincouns thanked Wang
for the readout and stressed the importance of close
cooperation between the United States, China, Russia
and the EU-3 to persuade Iran to address international
concerns about its nuclear program.
Sedney