TAJIKISTAN ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE IRAN ON NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 000039 SIPDIS EUR/CACEN IRAN DESK E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/5/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL MNUC TI IR SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE IRAN ON NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES CLASSIFIED BY: THOMAS ARMBRUSTER, CDA, FRONT OFFICE , State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov may take another run at influencing Iran to cooperate with the EU on nuclear issues during his upcoming summit in Tehran. Rahmonov will meet with Afghan President Karzai and Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on January 16. The summit is designed to elevate trilateral relations between the three countries that share Farsi as a common language. The UK Embassy in Dushanbe urged Tajikistan to pressure Iran three months ago to make progress on nuclear issues but was rebuffed. According to the MFA's North America Chief, Ismat Nasridinov, the Iranians said, "If we want help, we'll ask for it." Iran also reportedly said they did not want Russia involved in the nuclear talks with the Europeans. ¶2. (C) President Rahmonov is a vocal supporter of regional stability and pressuring Iran would be consistent with his past statements to the Embassy. According to Nasredinov, there is no schedule or agenda for the Tehran meeting. The summit is to be followed by an official state visit by Rahmonov to Tehran in the spring. Rahmonov will also no doubt attempt to make progress on Iran's participation in the Sangtuda II hydropower plant, a project the Iranians are funding to provide domestic power for Tajikistan. ¶3. (C) Nasredinov met with Charge on January 4 and provided the above information. ARMBRUSTER NNNN