JAPAN PRESSES IRAN ON NUCLEAR PROGRAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003235

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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

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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