IRANIAN FM SAFARI TO VISIT INDIA AUGUST 28

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