IRAN HINTING AT TEMPORARY SUSPENSION?

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBAI 006065

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/26/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV IR KNNP
SUBJECT: IRAN HINTING AT TEMPORARY SUSPENSION?


CLASSIFIED BY: Jillian L. Burns, Director, Iran Regional
Presence Office, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (d)

1.(C) Based on recent public statements, it is possible that
Iran is laying the groundwork to accept a suspension to its
enrichment activities. If true, Iran is likely to justify this
action by stressing the temporary nature of the suspension, to
last only as long as negotiations are productive. In this way,
Iran would assert that this step does not contradict its
position that the nation will not forego its "rights" to produce
its own fuel. At the same time, Iran is clearly keeping the
door open to negotiations to try to discourage immediate action
from the P5-1 on sanctions.

2.(U) After President Ahmadinejad in New York said Iran is
willing to negotiate under undefined "fair" and "just"
conditions, Iranian FM Mottaki, also in New York, said that
"Iran is currently seeking a way to make balance between its
rights and its commitments." At the same time, Mottaki
criticized UNSC action on Iran as illegitimate and accused it of
interfering in countries' internal affairs, as reported by IRNA.
AP reported that Mottaki said talks between top Iranian and
European negotiators on his country's disputed nuclear program
are "on track," and he believes a negotiated solution to the
standoff is possible. He told reporters that European Union
foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran's top nuclear
negotiator Ali Larijani would hold their third meeting "very
soon," probably in Europe, though he did not give a date or
location.

3.(U) Editorial board member of the conservative Iranian
newspaper Resalat, Amir Mohebbian, indicated possible Iranian
willingness to suspend its uranium enrichment activities -- but
only a timed and limited suspension while negotiations take
place. He also said US involvement in negotiations could be
beneficial, in an interview with ISNA (Iranian Students News
Agency),as printed in reformist Aftab-e Yazd September 24,

2006. Mohebbian claimed Iran has always said it is not opposed
to suspension for a limited period of time while negotiations
are in progress, without elaborating how such a suspension would
be verified. Iran must be certain that negotiations will be
resolved in a short period of time, and that after the
international sides have obtained confidence and assurance about
the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, it can resume
activities. At the same time, he asserted that removing Iran's
file from the UNSC was "not one of the main preoccupations" of
Iran. More important to Iran are its rights, he said, and what
is even more important is negotiations and diplomacy.

4.(U) On US participation in negotiations, Mohebbian said that
the US has always tried to disrupt Iran's negotiations. If the
US instead enters directly into negotiations, gives guarantees
about outcomes, focuses on legal and technical aspects of the
IAEA, and ceases "unacceptable political maneuvers," the
presence of the US in negotiations "can be evaluated as
beneficial."

5.(C) Note: In an unrelated conversation September 25 with IRPO,
an Iranian documentary filmmaker called Mohebbian's conservative
credentials solid, albeit with a far more pragmatic outlook than
other hardliners. The context of the conversation was a
discussion about launching cultural exchange programs related to
journalism. The filmmaker recommended starting by reaching out
to conservative journalists and specifically mentioned Mohebbian
as an ideal candidate. Endnote.

6.(C) Comment: While we cannot read too much into one article,
Mohebbian's interview is noteworthy. Given that the press has
clearly been told to refrain from the nuclear debate, Mohebbian
likely got a green light for his statements.

BURNS