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.
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