(S) JAPANESE RAISE LEVINSON CASE WITH IRANIAN

S E C R E T TOKYO 005568 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/IR STANDAERT AND CA FOO FBI FOR LAIRD (WFO) NSC FOR HARDING E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017 TAGS: CASC PREL PTER IR JA SUBJECT: (S) JAPANESE RAISE LEVINSON CASE WITH IRANIAN AMBASSADOR REF: STATE 166406 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) ¶1. (U) This is an ACTION REQUEST. See paragraph 4. ¶2. (S) Per reftel, Embassy Tokyo Political Officer December 13 delivered non-paper concerning missing AmCit Robert A. Levinson to MOFA Second Middle East Division Principal Deputy Director Motosada Matano, along with a request that Japan 1) raise this case with the Iranians, 2) urge Iran to cooperate with Mrs. Levinson during her visit December 17-23, 3) urge Iran to share copies of their investigations, or at least share details of their reports with the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, and 4) ask the Iranians to pass along any available information or intelligence about Levinson, as well as "proof of life," to the U.S. government. ¶3. (S) According to MOFA Iran Unit Chief Takashi Kamada, after receiving our request, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Director General Norihiro Okuda, that same evening, raised the Levinison case with Iranian Ambassador to Tokyo, Mohsen Talaei. Kamada was not able to provide any details of their conversation, but indicated Talaei had asked Okuda for "more details." ¶4. (S) The Japanese have asked us whether they may provide to the Iranians a copy of our non-paper. Please advise soonest. SCHIEFFER