IRANIAN FM LAUDS RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA, CALLS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000231 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, EUR/SNEC AND EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016 TAGS: PARM ENRG KNNP PREL MARR RS AJ IR AM SUBJECT: IRANIAN FM LAUDS RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA, CALLS SECRETARY RICE A LIAR SIPDIS REF: A) YEREVAN 169 B) YEREVAN 190 YEREVAN 00000231 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b, d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) "We do not need permission to pursue a peaceful nuclear program," Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki told reporters during a press conference at the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs February 14 in Yerevan. Mottaki arrived in Yerevan February 14 for a series of official meetings at Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian's invitation. Mottaki hailed discussions with his Armenian counterparts on "bilateral and regional issues" as the beginning of a new era of "strategic cooperation" that includes the completion of the Iran-Armenia natural gas pipeline and construction of transportation infrastructure (highways and railroads) to further link the two countries. In the "very near future" Iran expected to receive Russian nuclear fuel, Mottaki said, the final component required to launch operations at the Bushehr reactor. Mottaki refuted the Secretary's statement that Iran exploited hysteria following the publication of "filthy" cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed, and told reporters "Condoleezza Rice is a liar." End Summary. -------------- "A NEW ERA" IN ARMENIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶2. (C) In Yerevan on February 14, Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki hailed discussions on "bilateral and regional issues" as the beginning of a new era of "strategic cooperation" between Iran and Armenia. Mottaki was scheduled to meet with President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Discussions included the Iran-Armenia natural gas pipeline, highway construction, and expanding rail lines to link the two countries, Mottaki said. Mottaki offered Iranian assistance in brokering a settlement for the dispute with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, said that Iran would support "any agreement" resulting from the latest rounds of negotiations, and thanked Oskanian for briefing him on the progress of the Paris talks. Oskanian dismissed a question about recent news reports that increased trade could lead to U.S. sanctions through ILSA (ref A), saying Armenia's relations with Iran "were a bilateral matter for the two countries involved." -------------- -------------- IRAN WAITING FOR RUSSIAN FUEL TO POWER UP NUCLEAR REACTOR -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) In response to questions about the February 4 IAEA decision to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council (ref B),Mottaki said Iran "does not need permission to pursue a peaceful nuclear program." In the "very near future," according to Mottaki, Iran would receive Russian fuel to launch operations at the Bushehr nuclear reactor, where "engineers and experts" stand ready. Mottaki did not elaborate during the press conference, but said he briefed his Armenian interlocutors on details of Iran's nuclear program. -------------- -------------- MOTTAKI: RICE IS A LIAR, IRAN NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLENCE -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) "U.S. allegations" that Iran has exploited Muslim hysteria to incite anti-West sentiment and violence over the publication of offensive cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed are untrue, Mottaki said in response to a reporter's question. "Condoleezza Rice is a liar, the cartoons are deeply offensive to Muslims" and Iran is not responsible for inciting anti-West sentiment and violence, Mottaki said. The Government of Denmark should apologize for the pain it has caused the Muslim people, and our European friends should punish the perpetrators for creating an atmosphere of religious intolerance, according to Mottaki. Mottaki said he planned to phone his Austrian counterpart to relay the same message following his meetings with Armenian officials on February 14. (Note: Austria, Mottaki said, was next on the YEREVAN 00000231 002.2 OF 002 list of European capitals he was attempting to contact. End Note.) -------------- --- COMMENT: MOTTAKI'S STATEMENTS CAUSE FOR CONCERN -------------- --- ¶5. (C) Mottaki's first visit to Armenia predictably provided both the opportunity to highlight the ongoing Iranian-Armenian courtship and the forum to invoke his regime's anti-Western rhetoric before members of the press. Emboff was at first barred entry to the press conference for lack of press credentials, but was admitted after Pol chief called Foreign Minister Oskanian's chief advisor. EVANS