GERMAN MFA POLITICAL DIRECTOR STANZEL SAYS HE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000649 SIPDIS, P STAFF, NEA/IR, SAGSWA, EUR/CE, ISN, EEB E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2019 TAGS: PREL MNUC GM IR SUBJECT: GERMAN MFA POLITICAL DIRECTOR STANZEL SAYS HE DELIVERED FOCUSED MESSAGE TO IRAN Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Stan Otto for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: MFA Political Director Volker Stanzel briefed the diplomatic corps May 29 on his meetings in Tehran as part of his May 21-28 Middle East trip during which he visited six countries, including Israel. Stanzel's briefing only focused on the Iran portion of his trip. Stanzel characterized the background and impetus behind his invitation from Tehran as being Iran's anxiety over what it perceives as growing impatience by the international community over its failure to respond to President Obama's offer for talks. Stanzel said that he believes that Iran wanted to send the E3-plus-3 a positive signal. The focus of Stanzel's briefing was his discussion with Iranian National Security Council Deputy Ali Bagheri, during which he stressed to Bagheri the need to send a clear public message on Iran's position, the importance of accepting President Obama's offer for talks, and the idea that "the clock is ticking." He said that Bagheri stressed the government's inability to make any major decisions before the elections or in the transition period thereafter and that an Iranian response would not be forthcoming until September. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Stanzel gave a brief summary of where the situation currently stands with Iran, noting on the one hand the lack of progress and on the other hand the changed situation represented by President Obama's offer of talks. He said that he believes his own invitation from Iran should be viewed against this backdrop and was motivated by Iran's awareness that the international community is growing impatient with Iran's inaction. He said that, with his visit, Iran wanted to send some positive signals. Stanzel said that he met with three vice ministers and with National Security Council Deputy Ali Bagheri and that the atmosphere of the talks were very good. He said that Bagheri was not confrontational, but he also noted that Bagheri was careful not to make any commitments. Stanzel said that Bagheri and others made the central point that Iran could not make any major decisions on President Obama's offer in the time prior to the Iranian elections or during the subsequent transition period. He said that Bagheri was preparing a package of proposals that would be presented by the September UNGA and that this proposal would not only address the nuclear issue but regional issues as well. ¶3. (C) Stanzel said that he believes that President Obama's offer carries great weight in Iran and that they view it with great interest. Stanzel said that he delivered three messages to Bagheri: 1) that Iran needs to present a clear public message on its willingness to engage in talks over its nuclear program; 2) that Iran should take President Obama's offer for talks very seriously since this would likely be the best offer Iran would receive; 3) that the clock is ticking as long as Iran is continuing with its program. Stanzel said that it is a "fact of life" that Iran will not be able to make any major decisions in the run-up to or in the transition after its elections. He said that during this phase, however, the international community must continue to make the point to Iran that the clock is ticking. Stanzel added that what is important is that Iran makes a serious proposal and that a serious process gets underway. ¶4. (C) Comment: While Post cannot comment on the intentions behind Tehran's invitation to Stanzel, it is worth noting that after the briefing Poloff was approached by the British DCM who wondered whether the Iranians were using Stanzel for their own purposes and why, if the Iranians were truly trying to send positive signals to the E3-plus-3, they only invited Stanzel. He also expressed the view that the Iranians were just buying time and that their talk of elections and the transition period was just an excuse. Koenig