IRAN: NEW GERMAN FM WESTERWELLE FOLLOWING CHANCELLOR MERKEL'S TOUGH STANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001454 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KNNPGM IR GM SUBJECT: IRAN: NEW GERMAN FM WESTERWELLE FOLLOWING CHANCELLOR MERKEL'S TOUGH STANCE Classified By: DCM Greg T. Delawie for reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: After his first 2 weeks in office, Germany's new FM has taken clear positions on Iran. He made a number of public remarks in support of Chancellor Merkel's "zero tolerance" for Iranian nuclear weapons, and voiced strong support for the dual track policy. MFA Iran Task Force Director Andreas Krueger told poloff that his new minister's support for sanctions, should the engagement track fail, was strong. Krueger also shared with poloff that the MFA was considering floating the idea of offering former FDP FM Genscher, who has a standing invitation to meet with Iranian President Ahmadinejad, as a possible go-between for Iran talks, but not without prior consultation with the P5 plus 1. This tracked with what Genscher himself intimated in a separate conversation on Iran with the Ambassador. END SUMMARY. -------------- --- Way Forward: Continue Pressure on Nuclear Issue -------------- --- ¶2. (C) Krueger said he admired the US administration's resolve and said he thought we were following the best path by showing patience while not yielding on the major principles in the Tehran Research Reactor deal. He said abandoning negotiations on the nuclear issue to pursue human rights issues would most certainly lead to defeat in both camps and at least with this tactic we have a fighting chance of seeing some movement on the nuclear dossier. -------------- FM Westerwelle: The MFA's Take -------------- ¶3. (C/NF) Krueger said many MFA career diplomats were initially wondering about Westerwelle's position on Iran sanctions. However, in his first meeting with his current and former MFA state secretaries, Westerwelle came out in favor of strong sanctions within the dual track framework -- along the lines of his public statement before his meeting with the Secretary in Washington. Krueger said former State Secretary Silberberg played a large role in arguing the importance of the dual track policy and in convincing Westerwelle of the important role credible sanctions played within that policy. -------------- -------------- Iran Talks: MFA Floats Possible Role for Former FM Genscher -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Krueger noted that Genscher, who is widely recognized as Westerwelle's foreign policy mentor, has a long history dealing with Iran. He said the Iranians view him very favorably since Genscher was the first European FM to go back into Iran in the 1980s. Krueger tried hard to reassure that they would never consider doing anything without first "clearing" it with the other P5 plus 1 (or at least E3 plus 1) members, but said there are discussions percolating within the MFA on how one could use Genscher as an "ice-breaker" or "go-between" with Iran. -------------- Genscher's Views on Iran -------------- ¶5. (C/NF) In a separate conversation with Ambassador Murphy, Genscher shared his views on Iran. Based on his trip to Iran this year, Genscher argued against sanctions on the grounds that they end up hurting the common man more than the ruling elite. He noted the strong support from the Iranian population for Iran,s right to civilian nuclear energy. Genscher drew parallels between the Iranian regime and the Soviets during the Cold War and argued for the importance of maintaining connections with the Iranian government so that when the "right person" arrives on the scene, the foundation has been set for an "opening." Genscher stressed the importance of Europe giving a "positive echo" to Obama's global outreach and supporting the U.S. on Iran and Russia. Genscher told the Ambassador that during his last visit to Iran he had also been invited to meet with Iranian President Ahmadinejad, which he declined, not wanting to get out ahead of the Chancellor. He added that a subsequent invitation (to visit Iran and meet with Ahmadinejad) had been extended to him, but that he would not go without the full blessing of Merkel. MURPHY