IRAN -- ENGAGING INDONESIA ON U.S. FINDINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003334 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, ISN, ISN/RA (NEPHEW),IO/T (VONBEHREN),NEA; NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017 TAGS: PREL MNUC KNNP PARM IR ID SUBJECT: IRAN -- ENGAGING INDONESIA ON U.S. FINDINGS REF: A. JAKARTA 3306 ¶B. STATE 162558 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b-d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Based on our soundings, the Indonesian government does not plan to react publicly at this point to recent U.S. intelligence findings about Iran's nuclear program. The GOI continues to support diplomatic engagement on outstanding nuclear issues. A legislator told us that he welcomed the U.S. findings because they "lowered temperatures." Pol/C has reiterated to key contacts that Iran must comply with UNSC resolutions. The Indonesian media has factually reviewed the U.S. findings, but there has not been much commentary. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) ENGAGING THE GOI: Following up on his December 4 discussions (ref A),Pol/C reviewed ref B points with key officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU). Trini Gunarti, Deputy Director for North American Affairs, Ramadansyah Hasan, a Section Head in the Directorate for International Security and Disarmament Affairs, and an official from the Iran desk participated in the December 6 meeting as did poloff (notetaker). Pol/C emphasized that Iran's 2003 halting of its nuclear weapons program--a positive step--was a result of international pressure and scrutiny. He also noted that Iran's cooperation with the IAEA remained incomplete, and that Iran continued to enrich uranium in defiance of UNSCRs 1737 and 1747. Pol/C underscored the need for continued international pressure on Iran to comply with UNSC resolutions and to cooperate fully with the IAEA. ¶3. (C) INDONESIAN REACTION: DEPLU officials responded that the GOI was following the matter closely. The Indonesian government, however, did not plan to issue any official statement regarding the recent U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE). Hasan said that the NIE was positive because it relaxed tensions between Iran and the international community and "created space" for peaceful dialogue regarding the nuclear issue. Indonesia continued to engage Iran "as a friend" and urged it to cooperate fully with the IAEA. GOI interlocutors said they expected the issue of enrichment to be addressed as part of the IAEA's ongoing workplan with Iran. ¶4. (C) Pol/C underscored that it was vital that Indonesia continue to urge Iran to take needed steps. Indonesia had an embassy in Tehran and its officials sometimes traveled there. Indonesia should use these links to urge Iran to work with the international community to resolve all concerns re its nuclear program. ¶5. (C) LEGISLATOR'S COMMENTS: One legislator told us that he welcomed the USG's issuance of the NIE's key findings. Ade Nasution, a member of the national legislature, told Pol/C December 6 that the findings "were fascinating and lowered temperatures." While allowing that it was important for Iran to make progress in its discussions with the international community, he said he believed that the NIE findings made "a confrontation between the USG and Iran much less likely." Nasution, who recently visited Tehran, added that the USG should take credit for "telling the truth about the information it had and not covering anything up." ¶6. (SBU) MEDIA QUIET: The Indonesian media has mostly provided basic factual coverage of the NIE, although the matter has not featured prominently in major media outlets. In a December 6 editorial, leading Indonesian daily "Kompas" commented that the NIE undermined the USG's case that Iran sought to build nuclear weapons at this time. HUME