MOROCCO RESPONSE - OUTCOME OF P5+1 TALKS WITH IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000822 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2016 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM MA IR SUBJECT: MOROCCO RESPONSE - OUTCOME OF P5+1 TALKS WITH IRAN IN GENEVA OCTOBER 1 REF: A. SECSTATE 103218 ¶B. STATE 99897 Classified By: Political Counselor Gregory Thome, Reasons 1.4 (b,d). (C) PolCouns delivered subject demarche to MFA Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and the Middle East Mohammed Azaroual Oct. 5, upon his return from the UNGA. We also shared with him our concerns about the enrichment facility at Qom (Reftel B). Azaroual welcomed our read-out of the P5 1 meetings with Iran; emphasized the GOM's long-standing commitment to nuclear-free MENA region; and underscored his government's support for the P5 1 effort. However, while the Geneva meetings appeared to have produced some concessions from the Iranian side, the GOM remains skeptical about both Tehran's intentions and its tactics. In particular, Azeroual expressed concern about the IAEA proposal to supply enriched uranium to the Tehran Research Reactor. Noting that the GOI is "not a responsible regime," Azaroual warned that Tehran might simply be showing interest in the proposal as a stalling technique, or with a longer-term goal of "using the enriched uranium in an unstated way." We reassured him of our view that the enriched uranium would not pose an increased proliferation risk, and agreed that the P5 1 must push for a follow-on meeting with Iranian negotiators quickly. Regarding the "dual track strategy," Azaroual offered Morocco's support, in theory, but reminded that, in practice, the GOM's influence is limited because of the current suspension of diplomatic relations between the two countries. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Millard