PORTUGAL-IRAN DISCUSSIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 000277 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019 TAGS: PREL KNNP PINR IR PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL-IRAN DISCUSSIONS REF: LISBON 273 Classified By: DEPUTY POL/ECON COUNSELOR TROY FITRELL FOR REASONS 1.4 ( b, d) ¶1. (C/NF) The Portuguese MFA's Political Director, Nuno Brito, received the Iranian Ambassador to Portugal Seyed Rasool Mohajer May 22 to discuss nuclear proliferation. As Iran's nuclear ambitions are expected to be an agenda item for Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado's June 4 call on Secretary Clinton in Washington, Brito instructed his Director of North American Affairs, Francisco Alegre, to give us a readout of the meeting. ¶2. (C/NF) According to Alegre, Brito told Amb. Mohajer that Teheran's silence in response to the U.S. administration's good faith gestures reinforced the views of EU member states that support strengthened EU sanctions on Iran. Alegre said Brito asked Amb. Mohajer to convey to Teheran the message that Iran must respond positively to the U.S. goodwill gestures or risk further alienating the EU. ¶3. (C/NF) Amb. Mohajer allegedly said that Teheran was working on a response that would be released in due course, but that Iran's nuclear policy was conducted by the Supreme Leader himself. Moreover, the U.S. administration had offered nothing concrete; merely empty gestures. Alegre said Brito responded that the U.S. gestures were politically significant and represented a responsible first step. According to Alegre, Amb. Mohajer then recited his regular talking points about Iran's status as an ancient civilization, U.S. ties to the Shah before the revolution, and that several EU states were too cozy with Israel. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) The GOP usually tells us what it thinks we want to hear with regard to dealings with Iran. That being said, what Brito is reported to have said tracks closely with FM Amado's comments to the Ambassador two days ago (reftel). For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal, please see our Intelink site: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal STEPHENSON