PRC URGES IRANIAN NUCLEAR ENVOY TO RESPOND TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006076

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2027
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC CH IR
SUBJECT: PRC URGES IRANIAN NUCLEAR ENVOY TO RESPOND TO
INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS


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Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson
for reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. MFA Director General for West Asian and
North African Affairs Song Aiguo informed us September 17
that Iran's Interior Minister Mostafa Pur-Mohammadi told PRC
officials September 13-14 that the Iran nuclear issue is "on
the right track" and urged China to oppose new sanctions.
According to DG Song, Pur-Mohammadi called for the issue to
be dealt with in the IAEA framework as a "technical issue,"
said the UN Security Council should "stop sanctions or else
Iran would cease cooperation with the IAEA," and said that,
since Iran is already "a nuclear country," demands that Iran
end its uranium enrichment program should be withdrawn. Song
said that in response China expressed hope that all sides
would continue along the path of dialogue and negotiation,
advised Iran to take practical measures to allay the concerns
of the international community, including a suspension of
uranium enrichment, and show "flexibility." In light of
Pur-Mohammadi's visit, Song said the Chinese are not
optimistic about the current situation. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) MFA Director General for West Asian and North African
Affairs Song Aiguo briefed PolMinCouns September 17 on the
September 13-14 visit to Beijing of Iranian Interior Minister
Mostafa Pur-Mohammadi. According to DG Song, Pur-Mohammadi
traveled to Beijing as Special Envoy of the Government of
Iran to brief the Chinese on Iran's cooperation with the IAEA
and negotiations on "outstanding questions" on Iran's nuclear
program. During the visit, Pur-Mohammadi met with State
Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
Song noted that Pur-Mohammadi's visit was the second to China
by an Iranian Special Envoy in 2007; nuclear negotiator Ali
Larijani came to Beijing in early 2007 on a similar mission.


3. (C) Reading from prepared points, Song said that
Pur-Mohammadi told the Chinese that the nuclear issue is "on
the right track" and that Iran-IAEA cooperation has produced
"positive results." Iran and the IAEA, Pur-Mohammadi
claimed, have reached an understanding on outstanding issues,
as evidenced by the Work Plan, which includes resolution of
issues of international concern, removes IAEA suspicions and
allows future cooperation, including IAEA supervision and
inspection of Iran's nuclear activities. Pur-Mohammadi
asserted that through negotiation, Iran has resolved issues
regarding plutonium extraction, heavy water and enriched
uranium. The head of the IAEA and the international
community, the Iranian added, "positively appraised" this
work. Pur-Mohammadi also stressed that, contrary to the
comments of "some countries," Iran does not wish to drag on
negotiations with the IAEA and claimed to have developed the
Work Plan 20 days faster than the allotted 60 days.


4. (C) In his meetings, Song said, Pur-Mohammadi made three
proposals. First, he requested that the Iranian nuclear issue
be handled within the IAEA framework "as a technical issue."
This would be the best way to solve the issue and to ensure
the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities.
Pur-Mohammadi claimed that Iran will strictly implement the
IAEA Work Plan and make all nuclear activities transparent in
two-three months. He expressed hope for the international
community's support. Pur-Mohammadi added that current
nuclear activities come under full IAEA monitoring, and
future issues would be clarified and resolved under this
framework. The Iranian stressed that all of Iran's nuclear
programs and plans comply with international law.


5. (C) Second, Pur-Mohammadi called for an end to UN Security
Council sanctions, instead emphasizing cooperation and
negotiation to resolve differences. Iranian cooperation with
the IAEA, he claimed, has already "yielded results," and
there is no need to push for further sanctions. Iran, he
added, does not want to see the nuclear issue fall into a
"vicious cycle," in which further sanctions "force Iran to
respond harshly." Pur-Mohammadi stressed that if the UNSC
pushes additional sanctions, Iran will halt its cooperation
with the IAEA and take "necessary measures in response."
Such a course, Pur-Mohammadi claimed, would cause the
regional situation to "get out of control" and would mean a
"dead-end" for nuclear talks.


6. (C) Third, according to Song, Pur-Mohammadi insisted that
all parties should face the fact that Iran is already "a
nuclear country" in possession of "nuclear technologies."
Iranian technicians have made a "long-term effort" and have
successfully developed technologies such as uranium

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enrichment. This represented a fait-accompli that could not
be changed. Thus, Pur-Mohammadi said, the international
community should no longer demand the end of Iranian uranium
enrichment. The Iranian nuclear issue is connected to Iran's
"national dignity," the Iranian stressed, and the
international community could not take away Iran's rights.


7. (C) Song reported that the Chinese officials responded to
Pur-Mohammadi's statements by reiterating its principled
position that the international nuclear non-proliferation
regime must be safeguarded, China is opposed to nuclear
weapons proliferation and a peaceful approach through
diplomacy is "the best choice," as it is most conducive to
the peace and stability of the world and the region.


8. (C) Song said Chinese officials emphasized three points
with Pur-Mohammadi. First, Iran should "safeguard the
negotiation process," earnestly implement the Work Plan and
expedite the resolution of "outstanding issues." Second,
Iran should take practical measures to respond to the
concerns of the international community regarding the
peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear plans, in particular its
uranium enrichment activities. Third, Iran should maintain
contact and cooperate with all relevant parties to create
conditions for constructive talks. Citing the PRC's
experience dealing with the DPRK nuclear situation, Song
suggested that direct negotiations between Iran and United
States are crucial for a resolution of the crisis.


9. (C) Song reported that Pur-Mohammadi thanked China for its
positive and constructive role in pushing for a peaceful
settlement of the issue and asserted that under the current
IAEA framework, a settlement acceptable to all parties is
possible. Pur-Mohammadi told his PRC interlocutors that Iran
will consider seriously the Chinese points.


10. (C) PolMinCouns thanked DG Song for the readout of
Pur-Mohammadi's visit. Noting that the Iranian Special
Envoy's reported remarks made all the more clear the need for
prompt UNSC action, PolMinCouns urged China to come to the
September 21 P5-plus-1 Political Directors meeting in
Washington prepared to engage on the substance of a third
UNSC resolution on Iran. Song responded (unscripted) that
the Chinese told Pur-Mohammadi that the PRC will "play a
constructive role" at the September 21 meeting. China
advised Iran to cooperate closely with the international
community, show "flexibility" and respond to international
concerns. He added that Chinese officials emphasized to
Pur-Mohammadi the seriousness with which they view the
situation and that they are "not optimistic" about the
current situation. They urged Iran to hold direct talks with
the United States, Song concluded.
Randt