Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIJING7128
2007-11-15 11:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

PRC/IRAN: MFA READOUT OF FM YANG'S TEHRAN VISIT

Tags:  PARM PREL MNUC ETRD CH IR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 007128 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2027
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ETRD CH IR
SUBJECT: PRC/IRAN: MFA READOUT OF FM YANG'S TEHRAN VISIT

Classified By: Deputy Political Minister Counselor Ben Moeling.
Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 007128

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2027
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ETRD CH IR
SUBJECT: PRC/IRAN: MFA READOUT OF FM YANG'S TEHRAN VISIT

Classified By: Deputy Political Minister Counselor Ben Moeling.
Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: According to an MFA readout, in meetings
with President Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Manuchehr
Mottaki, and chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Tehran,
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said that after five
years of addressing the nuclear issue, "there is currently no
resolution." FM Yang told the Iranians that the situation
has reached a "critical stage" and there is "no cause for
optimism." Cooperation with the IAEA will have a "positive
impact," FM Yang told his interlocutors, but "relying on
solving the outstanding issues" is not enough and will not
help resolve "all the concerns" of the international
community. FM Yang told the Iranians they must "show
flexibility on uranium enrichment" and asked them to
seriously consider the "double suspension" proposal put forth
by the EU this spring. FM Yang also proposed establishing a
6-plus-1 mechanism to include the five permanent UNSC
members, Germany and Iran. DG Song reported that the Iran
side rejected the "double suspension" proposal and affirmed
to FM Yang that two of the "outstanding issues" identified by
the IAEA had been "solved." FM Yang recognized Iran's right
to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but told the
Iran side that China shares the view of the international
community that Iran's program must uphold the
non-proliferation regime, DG Song said. END SUMMARY.

Critical Stage, No Cause for Optimism
--------------


2. (C) FM Yang met with President Ahmadinejad, FM Mottaki and
chief nuclear negotiator Jalili during his November 13 visit
to Iran, DG Song Aiguo of the MFA's West Asian and North
African Department told Deputy PolMinCouns on November 15.
DG Song, accompanying FM Yang, had returned from Tehran at
midnight the previous night and had not yet slept, but
"wanted to brief the United States side as soon as possible,"
he said. FM Yang emphasized to the Iran side that although
the Iran nuclear problem ("wenti," also translated as

"issue") has now lasted five years, there is still no
prospect for a resolution. With some recent western media
speculation that the United States is considering using force
in Iran, the current situation has reached a "critical stage"
and offers "no cause for optimism," FM Yang told his Iranian
interlocutors.


3. (C) Iran's cooperation with the IAEA will have a positive
impact, but solving only the "outstanding issues" will not
help resolve "all the concerns" of the international
community, FM Yang told the Iranians. FM Yang stressed that
the issue has reached a "critical stage," and that upcoming
reports from IAEA DG ElBaradei and EU High Representative
Javier Solana will have a "direct impact" on the Iran nuclear
issue's "next stage." FM Yang expressed hope that Iran can
show flexibility and "turn around the situation" by engaging
with the IAEA and EU to make substantial progress through
negotiation, said DG Song.

FM Yang Suggestions: "Double Suspension," 6-plus-1
-------------- --------------


4. (C) FM Yang asked the Iranian side to "seriously consider"
proposals from all parties, such as "double suspension," (DG
Song used the phrase "double freeze") referring to the EU
proposal to suspend additional action in the UNSC against
Iran in exchange for Iran's suspension of the installation of
new centrifuges. FM Yang also proposed establishing a
6-plus-1 mechanism to include the five permanent UNSC
members, Germany and Iran, said DG Song. FM Yang emphasized
the importance of the United States and Iran establishing
direct negotiations, which China supports "based on the
success of North Korea nuclear negotiations."

FM Yang: Iran Has Right to Peaceful Nuclear Energy Use
-------------- --------------


5. (C) FM Yang recognized Iran's statement of its intent to
use (and its right to use) nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes, DG Song reported. However, DG Song reported, FM
Yang told the Iran side that China shares the view of the
international community that Iran must also make efforts to
uphold the non-proliferation regime.

Iran Appears to Reject FM Yang's "Double Suspension" Proposal
-------------- --------------


BEIJING 00007128 002 OF 002



6. (C) The Iranians did not accept all of FM Yang's
proposals. In particular, DG Song said, they responded to FM
Yang's "double suspension" proposal by noting that Iran had
in the past suspended HEU enrichment for "more than two years
with no contribution to a solution." Therefore, the Iranians
told FM Yang, it is "difficult for Iran to consider" a freeze
on enrichment now. On FM Yang's proposals for direct talks,
the Iranians responded that "it is no problem for Iran to
talk to the international community." However, the Iranians
warned, "if the UN Security Council still wants a resolution
on sanctions, it will have a negative impact on Iran's
cooperation with the IAEA and the EU."

Iran: Transparent Program, NPT-Guaranteed Rights
-------------- ---


7. (C) Iran "only wants its NPT-guaranteed rights to develop
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," DG Song reported the
Iranians telling FM Yang. The Iranians stressed their
cooperation with the IAEA, DG Song said. "Iran reaffirmed
the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities," DG Song said,
"and hopes to re-establish mutual trust and confidence with
the international community." The Iranians stated that
according to IAEA Chief ElBaradei, there is "no evidence" to
show that Iranian nuclear activities have violated relevant
agreements, and Iran has "no problems" with transparency.
The Iranians pointed to the fact that they reached a
framework agreement with the IAEA in 40 days, before the
60-day deadline. In addition, they stressed, Iran has
already answered two of the issues in the original IAEA work
plan (HEU contamination and plutonium) and "will answer the
remaining six." The Iran side expressed its desire to
cooperate with the IAEA and hold a dialogue with the EU.
Jalili will hold a meeting with Solana "soon," DG Song said.
As a result of this "constructive cooperation" with the IAEA,
the Iranians believe there should be no further sanctions at
the UNSC, DG Song said. In addition, Tehran believes the
upcoming IAEA report will be "positive."

China Wants to "Make More Efforts"
--------------


8. (C) DG Song said FM Yang stressed to his Iranian
interlocutors that Iran should "show more flexibility in
addressing the international community's concerns." China,
he added, wants to "make more efforts" to contribute to a
solution to the Iran nuclear issue.
PICCUTA