TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

UNCLAS TOKYO 002743 SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning included a meeting on Monday of the Government Revitalization Unit, during which members confirmed the Hatoyama administration's policy to "respect" the results of the recent screening of budget requests in formulating the state budget for fiscal 2010. ¶2. "Mutual Distrust Deepening between Iran and U.S., Europe" The liberal Asahi reported from Tehran (12/1): "Iran clearly demonstrated its confrontational position against the international community by announcing its plans to build ten uranium enrichment facilities. This exposed the depth of mutual distrust between Iran and the U.S. and Europe. While the Ahmadinejad administration was unable to form a national consensus through dialogue, the U.S. and Europe intensified their pressure on the nation and Tehran overreacted to it. There is a possibility that the confrontation will escalate further and that discussions will move toward additional sanctions on Iran." ¶3. "U.S. Considering Stepping Up Its Own Sanctions on Iran?" The moderate Yomiuri reported from Washington (12/1): "Taking the Iranian government's decision to construct ten new uranium enrichment facilities as a challenge to the global community, the Obama administration is apparently planning to accelerate discussions on sanctions on Iran. Ostensibly, the U.S. will likely watch for Tehran's next move through the end of the year. However, Washington will probably hold full-fledged discussions on whether to reinforce its own sanctions on top of additional UN Security Council sanctions in the view that Iran is unlikely to soften its position." ¶4. "Iran Trying to Extract Concessions from International Community?" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun wrote from Berlin (12/1): "Iran has announced that it plans to build ten new uranium enrichment facilities. Resolving this issue through dialogue will become impossible if Tehran turns its back on an IAEA resolution and proceeds with the project. However, there is also the question of whether Iran, which is under economic sanctions, is capable of constructing multiple facilities. There is a view that Tehran made the move in order to extract concessions from the international community." ROOS