Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NEWDELHI5929
2006-08-25 13:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
IRANIAN FM SAFARI TO VISIT INDIA AUGUST 28
how-toVZCZCXRO1318 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK DE RUEHNE #5929 2371300 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251300Z AUG 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8001 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3552 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 6907 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 6924 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 9965 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 3288 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 7621 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1244 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9784 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0556 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3761 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 6052 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 6116 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 5270 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 2965 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5317 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 3604 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0765 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2159 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4463 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/HQ USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 005929
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL KNNP EPET IAEA IR IN
SUBJECT: IRANIAN FM SAFARI TO VISIT INDIA AUGUST 28
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Geoffrey Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 005929
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL KNNP EPET IAEA IR IN
SUBJECT: IRANIAN FM SAFARI TO VISIT INDIA AUGUST 28
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Geoffrey Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Under Secretary for
Iran Anil Sharma confirmed Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister
Mehdi Safari will visit India beginning August 28. Stressing
this is not a replacement for the canceled FM Mottaki visit
of July 19, Sharma noted the visit materialized quickly and
added he had just been informed yesterday. Sharma said he
believed Safari was coming to give Iran's position on its
response to UNSCR 1696, as well as discuss more general
bilateral issues -- although specifically whom he will meet
with was still being set up. Sharma said he wasn't
authorized to divulge information beyond that. Joint
Secretary for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran Dilip Sinha
refused to take Poloff's call. According to a reporter
contact who checked with the Iranian Ambassador's office,
Safari's visit will last only one day, and he will likely
meet with Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed,
Petroleum Minister Murali Deora and National Security Advisor
M.K. Narayanan. He will also likely tour the new India
Islamic Cultural Center in New Delhi, according to the
contact.
2. (C) Dr. K.P. Vijayalaxmi, a U.S. and non-proliferation
expert at Jawaharlal Nehru University who had met August 24
with Defense Secretary Sehkhar Dutt, told Poloff that India's
security community is convinced Tehran is seeking nuclear
weapons, and therefore will not allow Iran to drive a wedge
between the U.S. and India over the nuclear issue, despite
India's traditionally positive relations with Iran. Safari's
visit was likely an effort to shape India's actions following
the August 31 deadline for complying with UNSCR 1696,
specifically to seek India's approval for keeping dialogue
open while Iran continues to negotiate with the international
community, she said. In regard to Safari's presumed meeting
with Petroleum Minister Deora, Indian Express reporter Dr. C.
Raja Mohan opined "Knowing well that nothing much can be done
to change India's policy line to vote with the U.S. on the
issue of sanctions, (Safari) is really coming to ensure that
the Iranian gas pipeline deal does not die in the wake of the
GOI's strong pursuit for the civil-nuclear deal with the U.S."
PYATT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL KNNP EPET IAEA IR IN
SUBJECT: IRANIAN FM SAFARI TO VISIT INDIA AUGUST 28
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Geoffrey Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Under Secretary for
Iran Anil Sharma confirmed Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister
Mehdi Safari will visit India beginning August 28. Stressing
this is not a replacement for the canceled FM Mottaki visit
of July 19, Sharma noted the visit materialized quickly and
added he had just been informed yesterday. Sharma said he
believed Safari was coming to give Iran's position on its
response to UNSCR 1696, as well as discuss more general
bilateral issues -- although specifically whom he will meet
with was still being set up. Sharma said he wasn't
authorized to divulge information beyond that. Joint
Secretary for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran Dilip Sinha
refused to take Poloff's call. According to a reporter
contact who checked with the Iranian Ambassador's office,
Safari's visit will last only one day, and he will likely
meet with Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed,
Petroleum Minister Murali Deora and National Security Advisor
M.K. Narayanan. He will also likely tour the new India
Islamic Cultural Center in New Delhi, according to the
contact.
2. (C) Dr. K.P. Vijayalaxmi, a U.S. and non-proliferation
expert at Jawaharlal Nehru University who had met August 24
with Defense Secretary Sehkhar Dutt, told Poloff that India's
security community is convinced Tehran is seeking nuclear
weapons, and therefore will not allow Iran to drive a wedge
between the U.S. and India over the nuclear issue, despite
India's traditionally positive relations with Iran. Safari's
visit was likely an effort to shape India's actions following
the August 31 deadline for complying with UNSCR 1696,
specifically to seek India's approval for keeping dialogue
open while Iran continues to negotiate with the international
community, she said. In regard to Safari's presumed meeting
with Petroleum Minister Deora, Indian Express reporter Dr. C.
Raja Mohan opined "Knowing well that nothing much can be done
to change India's policy line to vote with the U.S. on the
issue of sanctions, (Safari) is really coming to ensure that
the Iranian gas pipeline deal does not die in the wake of the
GOI's strong pursuit for the civil-nuclear deal with the U.S."
PYATT