EGYPT ON JUNE 12-16 IAEA MEETING; VISIT OF ALI

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003638 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2016 TAGS: PREL IAEA MNUC IR EU EG KNNP SUBJECT: EGYPT ON JUNE 12-16 IAEA MEETING; VISIT OF ALI LARIJANI REF: STATE 092883 Classified by Ambassador Francis Ricciardone for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador discussed with Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit June 11 the U.S. desire that Egypt make a strong statement at the upcoming IAEA Board of Governors meeting calling on Iran to accept the offer made by P5 governments and Germany. Referring to his discussions with the Secretary General of Iran's Supreme Council for National Security Ali Larijani, Aboul Gheit responded: "We will do so and we are already doing so. I pressed Larijani twice to 'show flexibility and work with the Americans and Europeans' -- once over lunch on Saturday, and once in my office today (June 11)." Aboul Gheit added that President Mubarak had also "told Larijani, in unambiguous terms, to take the U.S./European offer." On the upcoming IAEA Board of Governors meeting, Aboul Gheit said that as a member of the G-77, it would be difficult for Egypt to "break with the consensus." ¶2. (C) In separate discussions June 11 with MFA's Disarmament Office Director Dr. Hossam Aly, poloff also urged Egypt to make a strong statement at the IAEA meeting urging Iran to accept the offer from the P5 plus Germany and implement all steps called for in past IAEA decisions. Poloff said the U.S. believes that Egypt's support on the Iran matter should be stronger than that offered at the recent NAM ministerial meeting. Aly responded that Egypt's status as a NAM nation makes this issue very delicate, but promised to consider the request. ¶3. (C) Turning to the visit to Egypt of Larijani, Aly said that in the meeting with Aboul Gheit, Larijani tried to persuade Egypt that Iran does not want to acquire nuclear weapons. Aly said Larijani also told Aboul Gheit that Iran is carefully considering the proposal from the P5 plus Germany, but will not be rushed. Larijani asked Egypt not to side with the U.S. against Iran and the Islamic world, and complained specifically about Egypt's February 4 vote at the IAEA to report Iran to the UNSC as a vote against Islam. Aly said that Larijani appeared to be worried about the upcoming OIC meeting and the potential that Iran would be pressured there. Larijani also asked Aboul Gheit for support in pressing for a regional security arrangement (NFI). ¶4. (C) Aly said that Aboul Gheit did not believe Larijani's claim that Iran does not want nuclear weapons. He said Aboul Gheit stressed to Larijani that Egypt does not want any nuclear weapons in the region and that creating a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone is a high priority, which Egypt plans to continue to push internationally. As for the regional security arrangement, Aboul Gheit told Larijani that if Iran presents a text, Egypt would comment on it. RICCIARDONE