FURTHER MOROCCAN VIEWS ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000335 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL MO SUBJECT: FURTHER MOROCCAN VIEWS ON IRAN REF: A. RABAT 220 ¶B. RABAT 132 Classified By: DCM Wayne J. Bush for reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) DCM used the opportunity of a February 21 meeting with MFA Director General of Multilateral Relations and Director of Arab and Islamic Affairs Mohamed Azeroual to discuss GOM views on Iran. (NB: Azeroual served as Moroccan Ambassador to Iran from 1993 to 2000 and speaks Farsi.) Azeroual said that he had participated in the official meetings during the early February visit to Morocco of Iran's Vice President for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ahmed Mousavi (Ref B). In these meetings, the Iranians described their efforts to develop nuclear power as merely seeking to obtain modern technology. Since the Shah, however, said Azeroual, the Iranians had consistently been trying to modernize in order to become a regional power. When the mullahs came to power, they too took on this quest. According to Azeroual, the Iranians have a "clear strategy," which is to be the predominant power in the region and to play an even greater role in the Middle East, including on the Palestinian issue. ¶2. (C) Azeroual expressed particular concern over Iranian influence in Iraq. In his meeting with Iraqi Sunni leaders, Azeroual said that they all claim that the Iranians are "managing the affairs" in Iraq as "Shiism comes before nationalism." The Iranian role in Lebanon is clear with Hizballah and they are currently seeking contact with Hamas. ¶3. (C) When asked, Azeroual said that his advice to the USG would be to let the international legalities "play out" until Iran comes back to the "right path." In the meantime, every effort must be made to limit Iran's nuclear activities "to the maximum." In GOM conversations with the Iranians, the GOM urged the Iranians to comply with international (IAEA) regulations and continue the dialogue, but the Iranians asserted that they had done as much as they could in this regard. Azeroual cautioned that if there is not enough international pressure put on the Iranians, they will continue their efforts. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley