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