(C) IRANIAN AMBASSADOR DEMARCHES CROATIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000805 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/SCE, NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2016 TAGS: PREL MNUC HR IR IZ SUBJECT: (C) IRANIAN AMBASSADOR DEMARCHES CROATIAN PRESIDENT'S ADVISOR ON P5+1 NUCLEAR OFFER; ALSO COMMENTS ON IRAQ Classified By: CDA Greg Delawie for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The atmosphere in Iran is much more positive following the P5 1 nuclear offer, Iranian Ambassador Shamsian told Croatian Presidential foreign policy advisor Budimir Loncar the week of June 19. Loncar briefed the DCM on the content of his meeting with Shamsian June 28. ¶2. (C) The GOI regards the US offer for direct contact with Iran as an extremely important step, Shamsian noted, and Iran welcomes it. Participation in the offer of the P5 1 would necessarily moderate US rhetoric and extreme views. The Solana visit was very positive as well. Iran now expects there to be a negotiation with the USG on an equal footing; the USG has finished lecturing Iran, and will now start talking with it. Iran expects to have discussions with the P5 1 in Geneva during July, Shamsian continued. ¶3. (C) The situation in Iraq is much better than before the election, Shamsian noted. The Sunnis may accept peace and share power soon. Iran is comfortable with the majority of the people in power in Iraq today, as they are old friends of Iran. Iran hopes to begin discussions with the USG and Iraq on issues of mutual concern soon. ¶4. (C) Shamsian issued a strong plea for President Mesic to visit Iran, Loncar said. Loncar replied that there was no chance that this would happen this year due to Mesic's busy schedule. In addition, the GOC objects to the Iranian President's statements about Israel, the Holocaust, and other aspects of Iranian policy. Of course, if Iran repudiates its rhetoric about Israel and is forthcoming regarding the P5 1 discussions, the President might be willing to reconsider this position next year. ¶5. (C) Shamsian was unusually positive and forthcoming, Loncar told DCM. Loncar said he was not in a position to evaluate whether Shamsian's characterizations of the Iranian view of the P5 1 offer were genuine, or whether he was just trying to put a positive spin on the offer in order to attract a visit by President Mesic. DELAWIE