DEMARCHE REQUEST: MANAGING THE VISIT OF IRANIAN

S E C R E T STATE 129240 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019 TAGS: IR PARM PGOV PHUM PREL ETRD JA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: MANAGING THE VISIT OF IRANIAN SUPREME COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY SECRETARY GENERAL JALILI Classified By: NEA Acting A/S Ronald L. Schlicher, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy Tokyo. Please see paragraphs 5-6. ¶2. (S) Summary. Iranian Supreme Council for National Security Secretary General Saeed Jalili is expected to travel to Japan December 20-24, 2009. Embassy Tokyo is requested to convey to appropriate Japanese officials points in para 5 regarding U.S. policy towards Iran and on a few select issues. End Summary. ¶3. (S) President Obama is fully committed to seeking a diplomatic resolution to our concerns about Iran, including direct dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual respect. However, the USG will continue to hold Iran to its international commitments and hopes that Japan would also stress this to the Government of Iran during its interactions. ¶4. (S) Post is requested to provide the appropriate GOJ interlocutors with the points in paragraph 5 prior to the visit of Saeed Jalili. -------------- Talking Points -------------- ¶5. (S/REL JPN) Begin talking points: -- We urge you to press the Iranians to comply with their Security Council and IAEA obligations. But if Iran continues to reject constructive engagement on the nuclear file we must plan to give full meaning to the pressure elements of our approach and make clear to Iran that it has an opportunity that should not be missed. -- The President has gone out of his way to extend a hand to Iran and to offer principled engagement on the basis of mutual respect to address mutual concerns. -- However, engagement is not an end unto itself, and our focus on engagement is not sustainable if Iran refuses to seriously address international concerns about its nuclear program. -- The Government of Iran should have no doubt about the international community's readiness to increase pressure on Iran if its government does not show a genuine readiness to resolve those concerns. We trust you will make this point crystal clear to Mr. Saeed Jalili. -- We also ask you to think seriously about the message it will send to the world if you invite Jalili to tour a Japanese nuclear plant at a time when Iran remains out of compliance with its IAEA and UNSC obligations. -- We urge Japan to refrain from expanding or entering into new commercial deals with Iran. Such commercial ties undermine the effectiveness of measures to hold Iran to its international obligations. Additionally, VFM Yabonaka committed to Deputy Secretary Steinberg during his last visit that Japan would not extend medium or long term credits to Iran but the evidence is to the contrary in recent months. -- Iran's commercial activities are designed, in part, to create incentives to members of the international community to side with Iran in international fora, and at the very least cause countries to think twice about criticizing Iran or its actions. -- Commercial ties and economic enhancements are integral components of the P5 1 incentives package, demonstrating the commitment of the group to leverage business and economic opportunities to convince Iran to engage on the nuclear issue. -- We need Japan to stand with us on Iran. We look forward to working with you as we consider additional and meaningful measures to induce Iran to comply with its international obligations. End points. ¶6. (U) Post is instructed to report the results of its efforts. END TEXT. CLINTON