MALAYSIA CONFIRMS PARTICIPATION IN IRAN NUCLEAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000127 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN, NEA, IO AND EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017 TAGS: ENRG PREL AORC KNNP IAEA TRGY MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA CONFIRMS PARTICIPATION IN IRAN NUCLEAR TOUR, CITES FRIENDSHIP AND NAM SOLIDARITY REF: STATE 6433 Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, reasons 1.4 (b an d d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador raised our concerns over Malaysia's participation in the visit to Iranian nuclear sites (reftel) with Foreign Ministry Secretary General Rastam Mohammed Isa on January 19. The Ambassador, noting that he was under instruction, urged Malaysia not to accept Iran's invitation for a tour that Iran would use to project international legitimacy for activities prohibited by the UN Security Council. Rastam said he understood U.S. concerns, but that such a visit could be beneficial by providing more information on Iran's nuclear program. The Ambassador responded that such a tour would not be a substitute for Iranian compliance with UNSC requirements and it would be far better for Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA. ¶2. (C) Polchief also spoke with the Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary for Multilateral Political Affairs, Shahrul Ikram, SIPDIS on January 19 and urged Malaysia to reconsider its acceptance of Iran's invitation in light of Malaysia's avowed support for UNSCR 1737. Polchief highlighted the clear risk that Malaysia's participation would be misused by Iran and misinterpreted by the international community, and noted that the visit would receive intense scrutiny by the U.S. and others. Shahrul said Malaysia, as part of the NAM Troika, had accepted Iran's invitation and would go ahead with participation in the visit. NAM solidarity and Malaysia's friendly relations with Teheran made acceptance a foregone conclusion, he commented. Noting that the visit must be treated "very carefully," Shahrul asserted that the Malaysian envoy was under instruction not to pass any public judgments on Iran's nuclear program and not to sign on to Iranian statements that made such judgments. Polchief asked if Malaysia would take the opportunity to urge Iran's compliance with UNSCR 1737 and Shahrul, while remaining non-committal, said in theory any such messages would be conveyed privately to Iran. Reiterating Malaysia's intention to abide by UNSCR 1737, Shahrul noted he had chaired the Ministry's recent planning meeting on 1737 compliance. ¶3. (C) Comment: These senior Foreign Ministry officials received our message loud and clear. At this point, however, NAM solidarity -- with a Muslim country no less -- and Malaysia's strengthening relations with Iran trump concern over the U.S. and international community's potential reaction to participation in the Iranian nuclear tour. LAFLEUR