JAPANESE ON IRAN TRAVEL BAN AND VIGILANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001045 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/RA RMONGIELLO AND RNEPHEW, NEA/IR, IO/UNP, AND EAP/J E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2018 TAGS: PREL MNUC KNNP UNSC IR JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE ON IRAN TRAVEL BAN AND VIGILANCE REQUIREMENTS REF: STATE 34974 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) The names of all 40 individuals listed in UNSCRs 1737, 1747, and 1803 have been placed into an automated database accessible to Japanese immigration, customs, and visa officers, according to MOFA Second Middle East Division Principal Deputy Director Motosada Matano. Were any of these people to apply for visas, they would almost certainly be refused, he said. However, holders of Iranian diplomatic and official passports are not required to have visas to travel to Japan. Motosada said that if one of the named individuals were to arrive at a port of entry, they would be detained until MOFA decided whether to grant entry. He speculated that only urgent humanitarian cases, such as a medical emergency, would MOFA even consider granting entry. In any cases in which named Iranians attempt to enter Japan, Japan will promptly notify the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee, Matano assured. ¶2. (C) Matano said Japan has not told Iran of the steps it is taking to control the travel of the named individuals, and has not warned Tehran that such individuals would be denied visas or turned back. However, the Cabinet is expected on April 22 to approve measures to enforce the Iran resolutions and will, at that time, issue a public statement about the steps it is taking. Motosada said his colleagues are worried about this because on that day, a Senior Vice Minister will be attending the Iraq Extended Neighbors talks in KUWAIT and they are afraid he will become the object of the Iranian delegation's ire when Japan releases its compliance report more than a week earlier than required. SCHIEFFER