JAPAN PRESSES IRAN ON NUCLEAR PROGRAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003235 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2017 TAGS: PARM JA PARM PREL IR SUBJECT: JAPAN PRESSES IRAN ON NUCLEAR PROGRAM Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d). ¶1. (C) Summary: UN Security Council "confrontational moves" towards a new resolution would only lead to minimal Iranian cooperation with the IAEA, Iranian Director General Hamid Baeidinejad declared at non-proliferation talks in Tokyo on July 11, according to MOFA Non-Proliferation, Science and Nuclear Energy Division Director Tomiko Ichikawa. Baeidinejad said that pressuring Iran to suspend its nuclear program would be a waste of time. MOFA Director General Takeshi Nakane told Baeidinejad that Iran must make visible progress and fully cooperate with the IAEA, stating that "Tehran must show results." Baeidinejad claimed that Iran was "transparent" and very different from North Korea, denying any cooperation with the DPRK on nuclear weapons and saying Iran was in compliance with UNSCR 1718. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On July 11, MOFA Non-Proliferation, Science and Nuclear Energy Division Director Tomiko Ichikawa gave Embassy Tokyo a read-out on the 7th Japan-Iran Consultations on Disarmament and Non-proliferation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General of Political and International Affairs Hamid Baeidinejad led the Iranian delegation, and MOFA Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Director General Takeshi Nakane headed the Japanese side. More than half of the five-hour meeting was devoted to Iran's nuclear program. Iran's Nuclear Program -------------- ¶3. (C) According to Ichikawa, Director General Nakane repeatedly told Baeidinejad that Tehran must cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and gain the confidence of the international community. It was not enough for Tehran merely to state that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. "To show good will, Tehran must show results," Nakane told Baeidinejad. Nakane also stated that it was important for Tehran to accept UNSC resolutions 1737 and 1747 and return to the negotiating table. He suggested that the IAEA's visit to Iran on July 11 and an upcoming meeting between European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohammad-Javad Larijani were excellent SIPDIS opportunities for Iran to send a positive signal to the international community. "Iran must make visible progress" and "fully cooperate with the IAEA," Nakane told Baeidinejad. ¶4. (C) According to Ichikawa, Baeidinejad expressed regret at the strong mistrust of the international community, which he accused of using the nuclear issue as leverage to pressure Iran. Baeidinejad pointed out that Iran, itself, had been the victim of chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War and, therefore, opposed the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Baeidinejad said he was confident that "technical difficulties" with the IAEA could be resolved. Baeidinejad warned members of the UN Security Council not to take "confrontational moves" towards a new resolution, which would only lead Iran to reduce its cooperation with the IAEA to the minimum level required by the Nonproliferation Treaty. ¶5. (C) Baeidinejad complained that the European Union-3 (EU-3) was "unjust and discriminatory" towards Iran. It would be a "waste of time" for the international community to press Iran to suspend its nuclear program, Baeidinejad told Nakane. Baeidinejad declared Iran had the right to pursue a nuclear program and was determined to do so for peaceful purposes, and under IAEA supervision. Nakane replied that with rights come obligations. DPRK -------------- ¶6. (C) Baeidinejad stressed that Iran was very different from North Korea. "We are very transparent," he claimed. He denied any cooperation with the DPRK on nuclear weapons and asserted that Iran was in compliance with UNSCR 1718, saying Iran was already under three sanctions and did want to violate UNSCR 1718. SCHIEFFER