NIE ON IRAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO UZBEKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 002091 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017 TAGS: MNUC KNNP PARM IR UZ SUBJECT: NIE ON IRAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO UZBEKISTAN REF: STATE 162558 Classified By: Poloff Steven Prohaska for reasons 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Charge December 6 delivered reftel demarche to First Deputy Foreign Minister Nematov, leaving the two non-papers with Embassy's informal Russian translations. Nematov sighed loudly upon hearing that Iran probably would be capable of producing enough HEU for a weapon sometime during the 2010-2015 timeframe. He thanked Charge for the information and said that of course they had been following media coverage of the issue. Nematov stressed that the information that the Department of State has provided will promote peace and stability in the world. He noted that Iran is Uzbekistan's neighbor, and the GOU urged diplomatic means, including negotiations and exchanges of opinion with Iran, to address the issue. Charge stressed now is not the time to let up international pressure on Iran. Continuing international pressure coupled with the possibility of P5 1 negotiations leading to real benefits for Iran, were essential in persuading Tehran to give up the nuclear weapons option. Nematov nodded as Charge spoke. ¶2. (C) Uzbekistan is part of the international community and will take steps to strengthen security and stability in the region, Nematov said. Nematov noted the GOU's role in the creation of the Central Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (CANWFZ),and said that a CANWFZ document signed in September 2006 at Karimov's initiative has been practically realized. Uzbekistan is working hard at the United Nations to finish the protocol on P5 1, he continued. He thanked Charge again for the information, and said it would help to facilitate the development of Uzbekistan's position on the matter. HANSON