PRC/IRAN: BEIJING URGES TEHRAN TO RESPOND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000972 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2034 TAGS: PREL PARM ENRG PTER MNUC IR CH SUBJECT: PRC/IRAN: BEIJING URGES TEHRAN TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO P5-PLUS-1 OVERTURES Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Chinese officials have urged Iran to respond positively to an invitation to meet with the P5-plus-1 grouping, according to the MFA. The Chinese told the Iranian Ambassador to China April 9 that the United States reiterated Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and that Iran has an obligation to the international community to demonstrate the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities. The Chinese urged the Iranians to take confidence-building measures to demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to negotiate, and made the case to the Iranians that resolving the nuclear issue through diplomacy is in Iran's own interest. The Iranian Ambassador was initially positive about recent U.S. policy signals and Iranian participation in a P5-plus-1 meeting, but cautioned that Iran remains frustrated by U.S. sanctions and accusations of Iran's sponsorship of terrorism, according to the MFA. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Acting on instructions from Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi, MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Nuclear Division Deputy Director Shen Jian briefed PolOff April 13 on AFM Liu's April 9 conversation with Iranian Ambassador to China Javad Mansouri upon Liu's return to China from the London P5-plus-1 meeting April 8. PRC to Iran: Seize this Opportunity -------------- ¶3. (C) Deputy Director Shen said that AFM Liu had briefed Mansouri on the P5-plus-1 meeting and urged Iran to seize the present opportunity to engage in dialogue with the P5-plus-1 and show a flexible attitude toward the international community. Liu reportedly told Mansouri that U.S. officials had indicated in London that the United States planned to make full use of bilateral and multilateral channels to directly engage Iran on the nuclear program and other issues. The U.S. side had reiterated Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Liu told the Iranians, and Iran had an obligation to the international community to demonstrate the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities. Liu told the Iranians that the United States was ready to forego new unilateral sanctions during a limited period of "freeze-for-freeze" and stressed that the change in U.S. policy was strategic, not tactical. Liu told Mansouri that �0A;the United States was looking for a positive response from Iran. P5-plus-1 Expects Positive Response from Iran -------------- ¶4. (C) AFM Liu told Mansouri that the other P5-plus-1 parties had welcomed the change in U.S. policy and also expected negotiations with Iran would achieve progress, DD Shen reported to PolOff. The P5-plus-1 countries had expressed concern over developments in Iran's uranium enrichment program and had emphasized the centrality of the dual-track approach, Liu told the Iranian side. Liu stressed that the message of the press statement from the UK on behalf of the P5-plus-1 had clear: that all sides hoped for a positive response from Iran to the shift in U.S. policy. Liu told Mansouri that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana would invite the Iranians to a meeting with the P5-plus-1. Opportunity is Limited, Need to Build Confidence -------------- --- ¶5. (C) AFM Liu reportedly stressed to the Iranians that they had before them an important, new opportunity, but cautioned that "the window of opportunity will not remain open forever." Liu told Mansouri that the United States had adjusted its policy, and China hoped Iran would demonstrate flexibility and respond positively by restarting negotiations with the P5-plus-1. Liu reminded Mansouri that the P5-plus-1 incentives package offered in 2008 had been a comprehensive one that went beyond the nuclear program. He stressed China's belief that resolving the nuclear issue through diplomacy was in Iran's interest. AFM Liu told Mansouri that the Iranians should demonstrate a positive, flexible attitude in dealing with the United States and the P5-plus-1 by taking confidence-building measures, although Liu did not go into detail with Mansouri about specific measures. Iran: Welcomes U. S. Shift as a "Step Forward" -------------- - ¶6. (C) Ambassador Mansouri reportedly told AFM Liu in response that the nuclear issue was currently "at a turning point" and welcomed the U.S. policy shift. Mansouri said BEIJING 00000972 002 OF 002 that Iran hoped the United States would take concrete action to demonstrate its seriousness and that Iran would take measures to "promote the resolution" of the nuclear issue. He acknowledged that the U.S. side had recently sent positive signals to Iran, both in multilateral meetings and through public comments, including by President Obama. The Iranian side, Mansouri said, had noted as "a step forward" that the U.S. had clearly recognized Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Iran Wants Respect... and Sanctions Lifted -------------- ¶7. (C) However, according to Shen, Ambassador Mansouri added that the U.S. continued to sanction Iran and accuse the Iranians of supporting terrorism, and as a result Iran remained suspicious of U.S. sincerity. Mansouri reportedly welcomed the invitation to participate in a P5-plus-1 meeting and said that Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad recently had indicated their readiness to negotiate on the nuclear issue. He stressed, however, that such negotiations should be on the basis of mutual respect and "justice." Mansouri asserted that Iran had good cooperation with the IAEA and was ready to continue to cooperate, adding that the Iranians would continue their nuclear activities within the framework of the NPT. Chinese to Remain Engaged -------------- ¶8. (C) Calling the conversation with Mansouri an "initial response," Shen said that AFM Liu had instructed the Chinese Embassy in Tehran to echo this message of the importance of Iran responding positively to the P5-plus-1 offer to meet and to continue to attempt to give the Iranians a "sense of urgency." WEINSTEIN