MALAYSIA ON IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000955 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016 TAGS: PREL AORC IAEA KNNP UNSC IR MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA ON IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM REF: A. STATE 83239 ¶B. JAKARTA 6201 ¶C. JAKARTA 6026 ¶D. KUALA LUMPUR 375 Classified By: DCM David B. Shear for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) In the May 24 Malaysia-U.S. Senior Officials Dialogue, EAP A/S Hill conveyed points to the Malaysian delegation, led by MFA Secretary General Rastam Isa, that closely tracked those of ref A. Septel will cover the Senior Officials Dialogue in full. Hill warned that the Iranian foreign minister was likely to follow President Ahmedinejad's example at the D-8 Summit in Bali (refs B and C),and attempt to use the upcoming NAM ministerial in Malaysia as an opportunity to grandstand. Hill said the Iranian foreign minister was also likely to portray the nuclear issue as a bilateral conflict with the United States, when in fact Iran was in defiance of the IAEA, the UN Security Council, and the international community. ¶2. (C) Rastam responded to A/S Hill's points by noting that Malaysia maintained good relations with Iran, a partner in the NAM, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the D-8. He said Malaysia and Iran had substantive trade and other economic relations. Malaysia recognized the inalienable right of Iran to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, noting that this development should be in conformity with international safeguards agreements. Rastam said Iran needed to exhibit flexibility and suspend enrichment. Malaysia placed its trust in the IAEA, and thought the Iranian nuclear issue should be addressed solely within the IAEA framework. He said Malaysia would continue to talk to the Iranians, and noted that Malaysian leaders had done so when Iranian President Ahmedinejad visited Malaysia in March (ref D). Rastam said that he could not speculate whether the NAM would issue a statement on Iran, or what that statement might contain. That would depend on what consensus emerged within the NAM. ¶3. (C) We followed up on May 26 with MFA Assistant Secretary for Disarmament Bong Yik Jui, reiterating our earlier points and conveying ref A points as transmitted. ¶4. (U) A/S Hill did not have an opportunity to clear this cable. LAFLEUR