IRAN: INITIAL IRANIAN PRESS REPORTS ON GENEVA MEETINGS

UNCLAS RPO DUBAI 000407 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM IR SUBJECT: IRAN: INITIAL IRANIAN PRESS REPORTS ON GENEVA MEETINGS FACTUAL, POSITIVE REF: RICHARDSON-NEA/IR E-MAIL 10/2/09 ¶1. This cable repeats ref e-mail. ¶2. Inititial Iranian press coverage of the P5+1 negotiations in Geneva and the bilateral meeting between U/S Burns and Iranian negotiator Jalili has been factual, without editorial comment. Coverage in the sources we checked was positive, drawing on statements by Jalili and EU Representative Solana during the post-negotiation press conference in characterizing the meeting. The President's statement and the Secretary's remarks were also reported by some Iranian media. ¶3. Jalili's comments that Iran has not surrendered it's nuclear rights, that it has called for global nuclear disarmament, and that its proposed framework for negotiations was the basis for talks was reported extensively. The moderate Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) led its story on Jalili's press conference with his statement that negotiations would continue. It also reported his characterization of the negotiations as positive and based on dialogue in areas of common interest. Ayande News and other outlets reported Iran's agreement to allow IAEA inspectors access to the newly disclosed second uranium enrichment facility near Qom and the agreement to further enrich Iranian uranium outside Iran for use in Iran's research reactor, quoting Solana. ¶4. Tabnak, which is owned by Expediency Council Secretary and former presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaei, quoted a British Foreign Office spokesman contradicting Iranian claims that its framework had been agreed, while noting Jalili's statements on Iran's nuclear rights and the need for global disarmament. Opposition website Rahesabz reported that while some state media had hailed Iran's assertion of its rights, Western media had focused on Iran's agreement to inspections at Qom and acceptance of enrichment outside the country in a story headlined, "Geneva Talks: Iran's Retreat, Western Optimism." ¶5. The centrist Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA) ran a separate story on the President's statement. It quoted him as saying that the Geneva meeting was a constructive beginning but that Iran must take practical steps to make its nuclear activities more transparent and to cooperate with the IAEA and international community. ILNA also reported the President's warning that Iran would face increased pressure if it was not more forthcoming. Rahesabz reported the President's remarks, including US support for Iran's right to nuclear energy and the US commitment to negotiations, as well as his comment that the US is not interested in talking for the sake of talking. Semi-official, right-wing Fars News, which has ties to the IRGC, quoted the Secretary's comment that the talks were constructive but that Iran needed to take observable actions toward meeting the international community's concerns. ¶6. Iranian press gave considerable coverage to the bilateral meeting between U/S Burns and Jalili. While little coverage went beyond the Department's announcement that the meeting had taken place, Tabnak noted that unlike Iran's previous discussions on the nuclear issue, this time it was face-to-face with the US. Rahesabz described the meeting as "unprecedented." Rajanews, which is thought to be affiliated with President Ahmadinejad, also reported that the meeting had occurred. ¶7. Editorial comment will likely come over the next several days. Most Iranian news organizations do not publish on Friday, and the IRIG is likely in the process of determining the tone of editorials in state-run and semi-official media. EYRE