MEDIA REACTION IRANS NUCLER DEVELOPMENT -

UNCLAS TOKYO 001206 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION IRANS NUCLER DEVELOPMENT - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Top stories this morning include the e decision made Monday by the Japanese government to delay the planned withdrawal of its ground troops from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah. ¶1. "Too Early to Give Up on Iran" The liberal Asahi editorialized (3/7): "The board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began its meeting yesterday at a time when the international community has failed to convince Iran to halt its nuclear development. The board agreed last month to refer the issue to the more powerful UN Security Council in order to stop Tehran from enriching uranium.... President Bush has recognized India, a country that is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),as a nuclear weapons state. So why does it reject Iran's demand that it be allowed the peaceful use of nuclear energy within the NPT framework? The international community must be confused with and angry at this clear double standard. The US claims that India and Iran are different. In India, democracy has taken root, and there is a stringent system preventing the outflow of nuclear technology. India is indeed different from Iran, but it is uncertain whether this explanation will resonate with the international community. The US bears a heavy responsbility in this regard. ¶2. "The international community, including Japan, needs to draw on its wisdom to rebuild the fraying nonproliferation framework, and the standoff with Iran will be a cornerstone for this effort. The world should remain calm, not give up, and continue to tenaciously work on Tehran in hopes of finding a compromise. Fortunately, Iran's negotiations with Russia and the EU three have not completely collapsed.... The ultimate goal is to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear arms.... The IAEA needs to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions while keeping the country in the NPT regime.... Bogged down in Iraq, the US must be hoping to avoid further aggravating the situation in the Middle East by isolating Iran." SCHIEFFER