DFM SASAE ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002017 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2019 TAGS: PREL PARM CASC IR JA SUBJECT: DFM SASAE ON IRAN REF: 8/31/09 SCHUCHAT-ZUMWALT E-MAIL Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt per reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. ¶2. (C) On September 1, DCM met with Deputy Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae in advance of Sasae September 5-6 trip to Tehran to ask that he urge the Iranian Government to cooperate completely with the IAEA, to address fully the international community's concerns regarding the nature of Iran's nuclear program and to respond favorably to the P5 1 invitation to meet with Iranian officials. DCM also asked that Sasae urge Iran to resolve quickly all outstanding cases involving American citizens who are missing and detained in Iran. ¶3. (C) Explaining that his trip to Iran was part of a regular dialogue between the GOJ and Iran, the DFM readily agreed to raise these issues, saying that he believed it was important for the Iranian Government to respond to concerns expressed by the United States. Sasae said that it remained unclear to what extent Iran's unsettled domestic political situation following the disputed June 12 Presidential election had complicated the government's ability to manage difficult issues, both domestic and international. In addition to using his trip to raise issues of common U.S.-Japan concern, Sasae planned to seek his interlocutors' views on Iran's domestic political situation and its implications for foreign policy. ¶4. (C) Sasae noted the P5 1 senior-level meeting that will convene in Frankfurt this week, saying that any read-out on these discussions would be helpful to him in raising the nuclear issue during his discussions in Tehran. ACTION REQUEST: To the extent possible, please provide to post NLT Washington COB Thursday, September 3 feedback on the Frankfurt meeting that we can share with DFM Sasae prior to his departure. ROOS