IRANIAN VICE PRESIDENT MASHAIE VISITS TOKYO

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003316

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018
TAGS: PREL IR JA
SUBJECT: IRANIAN VICE PRESIDENT MASHAIE VISITS TOKYO

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)


1. (C) Iranian Vice President for Cultural Heritage and
Tourism Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie visited Tokyo November 27-30,
according to MOFA Second Middle East Division Principal
Deputy Director Motosada Matano. While in Japan, Mashaie met
with governmental and private tourism officials, had
breakfast with members of the Japan-Iran Parliamentary
Friendship League, and met for thirty minutes on November 28
with Foreign Minister Nakasone. According to Matano, most of
the subject matter discussed had to do with issues related to
tourism and cultural exchanges, but Nakasone did tell Mashaie
that Iran must comply with the United Nations Security
Council resolutions concerning its nuclear program in order
to win back the trust of the international community.
Mashaie replied by reiterating Iran's position that it has
every right to pursue a nuclear energy program and that the
one under development is for peaceful, civilian purposes. He
asserted that Iran will make further efforts, including
cooperation with the IAEA, to win the trust of the
international community.


2. (C) Mashaie renewed a long-standing request for the
Japanese Foreign Minister to visit Tehran, something that is
not likely to happen in the foreseeable future, said Matano.
This is due mainly to the fact that it is difficult for
Nakasone to leave the country given the domestic political
turmoil in Japan. However, Matano reported that Nakasone
would probably be favorably inclined to visit Iran should the
opportunity arise, given that fact that prior to his
political career, Nakasone had business contacts with Iran
and has always been interested in visiting.
SCHIEFFER