Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAKU719
2007-06-08 11:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
IRAN REPORTEDLY NOT CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE JOINT
how-toVZCZCXRO9740 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHKB #0719 1591147 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081147Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3207 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHDIR/IRAN RPO DUBAI PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000719
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR RU AJ
SUBJECT: IRAN REPORTEDLY NOT CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE JOINT
RUSSIA-U.S. RADAR
Classified By: Charge Donald Lu for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000719
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR RU AJ
SUBJECT: IRAN REPORTEDLY NOT CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE JOINT
RUSSIA-U.S. RADAR
Classified By: Charge Donald Lu for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) In a June 8 press statement, Iranian Embassy press
spokesman in Baku Majid Feyzullahi said that Tehran does not
have any concerns about Russia's proposal to make its Qabala
radar station available for joint use with the U.S.
Feyzullahi added that "we have no concerns because the issue
is Azerbaijan's internal affair."
2. (C) Although covered by the Azerbaijani media, most
initial press reporting focused solely on the U.S.-Russia
dimension of the story, with no consideration given to
possible Iranian reactions or implications for
Azerbaijani-Iranian relations. The story generated
surprisingly little reaction among Embassy Baku Iran
contacts, and was picked up by only one Azeri diaspora
website. The story was not featured on Iranian
English-language websites to include BAZTAB, Islamic Republic
News Agency (IRNA),or the Iranian Student's News Agency
(ISNA).
3. (C) Comment: The initial Iranian reaction to this
announcement is somewhat puzzling given the fact that Iran
rarely misses an opportunity to criticize U.S. financial
support for Azerbaijan's short-range surface radar located in
Astara (funded by the U.S. EXBS program) as "offensive" or
"threatening." Given publicly-stated U.S. concerns about the
Iranian ballistic missile program and interest in developing
an anti-ballistic missile system, it is difficult to
understand why the Iranians would not also consider the
Qabala radar as an "offensive" or "threatening" capability.
We suspect Iran's public stance will change. End Comment.
LU
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR RU AJ
SUBJECT: IRAN REPORTEDLY NOT CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE JOINT
RUSSIA-U.S. RADAR
Classified By: Charge Donald Lu for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) In a June 8 press statement, Iranian Embassy press
spokesman in Baku Majid Feyzullahi said that Tehran does not
have any concerns about Russia's proposal to make its Qabala
radar station available for joint use with the U.S.
Feyzullahi added that "we have no concerns because the issue
is Azerbaijan's internal affair."
2. (C) Although covered by the Azerbaijani media, most
initial press reporting focused solely on the U.S.-Russia
dimension of the story, with no consideration given to
possible Iranian reactions or implications for
Azerbaijani-Iranian relations. The story generated
surprisingly little reaction among Embassy Baku Iran
contacts, and was picked up by only one Azeri diaspora
website. The story was not featured on Iranian
English-language websites to include BAZTAB, Islamic Republic
News Agency (IRNA),or the Iranian Student's News Agency
(ISNA).
3. (C) Comment: The initial Iranian reaction to this
announcement is somewhat puzzling given the fact that Iran
rarely misses an opportunity to criticize U.S. financial
support for Azerbaijan's short-range surface radar located in
Astara (funded by the U.S. EXBS program) as "offensive" or
"threatening." Given publicly-stated U.S. concerns about the
Iranian ballistic missile program and interest in developing
an anti-ballistic missile system, it is difficult to
understand why the Iranians would not also consider the
Qabala radar as an "offensive" or "threatening" capability.
We suspect Iran's public stance will change. End Comment.
LU