IRANIAN GOVERNMENT REACTS TO IAEA VOTE

UNCLAS DUBAI 000523 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC IAEA KNNP EU IR SUBJECT: IRANIAN GOVERNMENT REACTS TO IAEA VOTE 1.(U) Summary: According to February 5 press reports, President Ahmadinejad responded to the IAEA vote by "rescinding adherence to the Additional Protocol to the NPT" and "ordering commencement of all research and development of nuclear fuel technology for peaceful purposes, within the framework of the NPT and IAEA safeguard agreements." Javad Vaedi, Iran's spokesperson for the negotiating team to IAEA, said negotiations with Russia over its offer to enrich uranium in Russia would continue but could be moot if Iran began its own enrichment. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Asefi said Iran was still willing to negotiate with the international community over its nuclear program and said Iran would be meeting Russia February 16. End Summary. 2.(U) As reported by Iran's official news agency, IRNA, President Ahmadinejad sent a letter February 5 to the head of the Iran Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) in which he ordered implementation of the law passed November 3, 2005 by the Majles. The letter came on the heels of the IAEA Board of Governors vote the previous day to report Iran to the UN Security Council; in the letter Ahmadinejad ordered the following: - commencement of all research, development, and preparatory-related work on nuclear full-cycle technology for peaceful purposes; - a comprehensive call on all experts and academics of national universities and research institutions to work with the IAEO for further development of indigenous capabilities for peaceful use of nuclear technology; - suspension, as of February 5, of the implementation of the Additional Protocol and additional cooperation with the IAEA. 3.(U) The letter specified that all of Iran's "peaceful nuclear activities" would be carried out "within the framework and provision of the NPT and IAEA safeguard agreements" and that cooperation with the IAEA to observe all technical and legal commitments would continue within this framework. 4.(U) Javad Vaedi, spokesperson for Iran's negotiating team to the IAEA and deputy secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, told reporters after the vote February 4 that Iran does not consider the IAEA Board of Governors' resolution as an expression of the international community's will, but rather a message "only from Western governments." He said Iran would proceed with negotiations with Russia on its offer to enrich uranium in Russia, but that "if enrichment begins in Natanz, we will have no need for Russian supply." 5.(U) Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hamid Reza Asefi told a press conference February 5 that Iran was still willing to negotiate with the international community over its nuclear program, as reported by AP. He said Iran would hold talks with Russia February 16 on its enrichment offer. Asefi said Iran does not fear the UNSC and that the IAEA vote was "not the end of the world." Comment -------------- 6.(SBU) Iran's reaction to pressure typically mixes bravado with pragmatism. Ahmedinejad is trying to play it both ways, claiming he has "no choice" but to end compliance with the Additional Protocol, out of "respect" for the law that parliament passed last year, while at the same time pointedly avoiding closing the door to further diplomatic negotiations in the run-up to March, when Iran's case is due to come up for further debate. BURNS