Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RPODUBAI450
2009-10-21 08:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Iran RPO Dubai
Cable title:  

IRAN PRESS/NUCLEAR: FOREIGN MINISTER MOTTAKI'S OCTOBER 20

Tags:  IR PGOV PREL PARM 
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P R 210818Z OCT 09
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0577
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DIA FT BELVOIR
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHDIR/RPO DUBAI 0578
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RPO DUBAI 000450

SENSITIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IR PGOV PREL PARM
SUBJECT: IRAN PRESS/NUCLEAR: FOREIGN MINISTER MOTTAKI'S OCTOBER 20
COMMENTS ON NUCLEAR ISSUES

DUBAI 00000450 001.2 OF 002


(U) The following are nuclear-related comments from IRIG Foreign
Minister Mottaki's October 20 morning Press conference (rough
translation follows):



[On Iran's Nuclear Rights]: Today all country's admit to Iran's
right for use of nuclear technology for peaceful goals [which he
contrasts to the prevailing international mood at the 2005 start
of the Ahmadinejad administration].



[On Vienna IAEA Discussions re Fuel for Tehran Research Reactor]:



- In the talks that have recently taken place in Vienna, the
sides agreed that IAEA Director General Mohammad Al-Baradei
would announce the results of the meetings. The face of the
meeting for the sides is clear. The Tehran Research Reactor
will need new fuel in a while and based on international law and
regulations we announced this need to the IAEA and some
countries expressed their willingness to provide fuel, with
technical talks for carrying out this work starting in Vienna
yesterday.



- We had announced that the TRR needed fuel. Based on the law
announced this need to the IAEA. Some countries announced their
willingness to provide fuel to Iran and technical discussions
for carrying this out began in Vienna yesterday.



- We are convinced that continuing this meeting can lead to an
agreement by the sides to provide the 20 percent enriched fuel
that Tehran needs.



[when asked about guaranteed supply of fuel for the TCC]: If
the talk is of guarantees, it is the other side who must provide
us guarantees concerning providing fuel.



[question re the Vienna talks and the probability of discussions
between Iranian and US officials separately on its margins]: The
negotiations took place based on the agreements that had been
arrived at previously. Based on the subject under discussion,
whether officially and collectively or in the location of
negotiations with various delegations there was an agenda that
existed on which agreement was reached. As such, there are
discussions carried out by the whole group at the official
location and other discussions that are carried out.



- Iran's proposal to the IAEA for providing fuel for the TRR was
passed to a number of countries. The US and Russia agreed to

cooperate in providing fuel. It is natural that there must be
technical discussions between these two countries and these
discussions are taking place with the presence of the IAEA. The
amount of fuel we need is not great and therefore there is no
need for the presence of the French.



[question: the Western side says that most of the enriched
uranium will be sent to Russia whereas the Iranian side is
saying that most of the uranium will stay in Iran: what is
Iran's decision in this matter?]: Iran has put forward its
proposal concerning provision of TRR fuel to the IAEA. The IAEA
within the framework of the relevant regulations has relayed
this proposal to some fuel producers and possessors of fuel and
two countries agreed to act relative to providing it. As to by
what mechanism the fuel will be provided and within what
framework is the subject of discussions in Vienna. After these
discussions are finalized, further details will be provided by
the discussants or by the MFA.




DUBAI 00000450 002.2 OF 002


[question: yesterday Iran announced that France wasn't a
reliable country for carrying out negotiations, but based on
reports, France is at the negotiating table today]: France was
not one of the countries that expressed its willingness to
provide fuel to Iran. For this reason it was natural that this
meeting be carried out with countries who did express their
willingness. Of course naturally there are marginal issues and
other matters being put forward in the press and by those
following the issues which can be discussed and dealt with when
necessary.



[Freeze for Freeze]: With respect to the very clear agenda in
Vienna with one round already carried out, such an issue is not
on the agenda for discussions.



[Effect of Baluchistan Terrorist Incident on P5+1 Talks]: We
will give an appropriate answer to any issue at its own [i.e.
appropriate] time.



[question: Al-Baradei has indicated that the road to solving
the nuclear issue is via transparent discussions between Iran
and the US, does this viewpoint exist in Iran?] That which was
discussed in Geneva with the P5+1 was the package of proposals
that Iran presented and in that context it is obvious that we
have announced our willingness for continuing these discussions.
In our opinion the package proposed by Iran is a comprehensive
one with various topics and can lead to good decisions and
agreements concerning nuclear subjects, disarmament, and the
role of the IAEA and its supervisory system.



[question: if in the negotiations an agreement is reached
concerning buying fuel, will these agreements be based on Iran
changing or suspending its nuclear activities, or will Iran
continue its nuclear activities as before?] Iran's nuclear
activities are within the framework of its NPT rights and its
observation of its commitments are within the framework of IAEA
regulations. The issue of Iran's legal and peaceful nuclear
activities has been set, towards achieving the rights of the
Iranian nation to create nuclear energy and electricity from
nuclear power, and the Majlis has committed the Administration
such that 20 thousand Megawatts of electricity be provided by
nuclear energy, and this is an issue that various sides have
announced.



- In response to "if it doesn't happen" questions say that we
try so that it does happen. We pursue the matter within the
legal framework. Based on IAEA agreements, the possessors of
this fuel are committed to provide this fuel to countries that
don't have it. This is an obligation that the NPT and IEAE
regulations puts on countries possessing fuel. Our request is
fully legal and clear. The IAEA is trying to make it happen.
We hope that the IAEA is successful in its efforts but if these
agreements take place they have no relation to the topic of
Iran's enrichment. One issue is providing fuel for the Tehran
Research Reactor and another [i.e. separate] issue is Iran's
peaceful and legal nuclear activities for providing fuel for its
electrical power stations, and these two topics are not related
to each other.



[Removal of France from Negotiations]: This issue has no
relation to other issues that we have with France to include the
potential 50 tons that we had in former agreements with France
and matters relating to it. This matter must be examined and
discussed in its own place.
EYREAE