TUNISIAN VIEWS ON U.S. STATEMENT ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001341

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIAN VIEWS ON U.S. STATEMENT ON IRAN

REF: STATE 87682

Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM HUDSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)


1. (C/NF) On June 1, Ambassador delivered Ref A demarche on
the U.S. statement on Iran as well as the English and Arabic
texts of the Secretary's statement to Foreign Minister
Abdelwaheb Abdallah. Ambassador stressed our desire for
Tunisia to issue a public statement supporting our move, GOT
encouragement of Iran to suspend its enrichment activities
and that the international community is united on this issue.



2. (C/NF) Abdallah said that he had received a report from
the Tunisian Ambassador in Washington who had been briefed by
Assistant Secretary Welch and that he had also read our
statement. He reiterated that he - and the GOT - regularly
engages Iranian officials to stress that, while Tunisia
supports the peaceful development of nuclear power, recent
Iranian statements are not helpful. Abdallah did not commit
to issuing a public statement of support, but said that
clearly this is an opportunity for Iran to renew its dialogue
with the world's great power. He added that "You have
already won" and that the U.S. statement is a good step for
Tunisia, the region and the world. "Not even one country,"
said Abdallah, supports Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions.


3. (C/NF) Abdallah commented that he did not understand the
current Iranian perspective and noted that the Tunisian
ambassador in Iran feels there is no united view among
Iranian citizens. He added that he found it unusual during
his February visit to Tehran (Ref B) that President
Ahmadinejad did not raise the nuclear issue, instead focusing
on bilateral relations.
HUDSON