FM NAKASONE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH MAY 2 IRAN VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000938

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/J, NEA/IRAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: PREL JA IR
SUBJECT: FM NAKASONE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH MAY 2 IRAN VISIT

Classified By: A/DCM Ron Post, reasons 1.5(b),(d).


1. (C) Summary: Japan understands U.S. concerns over plans
for FM Nakasone to travel to Iran on May 2, but is committed
to going ahead with the visit, Middle East DG Suzuki informed
the Charge on April 22. Suzuki assured the Charge that
Nakasone will do nothing to undermine the current
international sanctions policy during his talks in Tehran,
and repeated Japan's offer for Nakasone to convey any
messages on behalf of the United States. Charge reaffirmed
the U.S. position opposing the visit, but promised to convey
Suzuki's offer to Washington. Suzuki noted that the only
deliverable for the visit is expected to be an announcement
regarding the specifics of Japan-Iran cooperation on
assistance to Afghanistan. The Israeli Embassy has indicated
that their Ambassador plans to make the case for cancelling
the visit to Suzuki later in the day. End Summary.


2. (C) MOFA Director General for Middle Eastern and African
Affairs Toshiro Suzuki requested a meeting with the Charge on
April 22 to follow up on points raised during Ambassador
Ichiro Fujisaki's April 21 discussions with Deputy Secretary
James Steinberg and Special Advisor Dennis Ross. Noting that
he had spoken with Fujisaki directly the night before, he
reiterated the point that Japan has decided to proceed with a
trip by Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone to Iran on May 2,
"within the context of our normal diplomatic relationship."
He said the offer to convey any particular messages on behalf
of the United States remains open.


3. (C) Japan is aware of U.S. concerns over the timing of the
Nakasone visit with respect to the sentencing of Roxana
Saberi and the "deplorable" comments of Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad before the UN Conference on Racism in
Geneva, Suzuki noted, but is ready to "tell Iran what we need
to tell them." Nakasone's conversations in Iran are expected
to cover a broad range of bilateral and regional concerns,
including Iran's nuclear development, but he will also use
the visit to urge Iran to "act more responsibly" if it hopes
to build the trust of the international community. Nakasone
has already raised the Saberi case with Iranian Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, he said, but will continue to
pursue the issue.


4. (C) Suzuki assured the Charge that Nakasone will say
nothing in Tehran to undermine the current, multilateral
sanctions approach. The only "deliverable" for the visit
will be a more concrete announcement of Japan-Iran
cooperation on assistance to Afghanistan, which was previewed
in March during the pledging conference at The Hague. The
plan will call for joint assistance in the areas of border
control, with an emphasis on narcotics trafficking and
refugee assistance.


5. (C) At the same time, Japan is eager to be supportive of
the new U.S. policy of diplomatic engagement with Iran,
Suzuki stated. He urged the United States to consider not
only Iran's negative actions, but also the more subtle
positive messages, including Ahmadinejad's ambiguous
statement regarding Saberi and the dispatch of Foreign
Minister Mottaki to the Friends of Pakistan conference in
Tokyo. The Charge reminded Suzuki that Secretary Clinton, in
discussing the review of U.S. Iran policy with Prime Minister
Taro Aso, had made the point that regardless of what progress
is made on engagement, the sanctions portion of U.S. policy
will not change right away.


6. (C) The Charge acknowledged Japan's continued willingness
to carry messages to Iran and promised to convey that
standing offer to Washington. At the same time, he noted,
Japan already has a good understanding of U.S. concerns with
respect to Iran. Suzuki indicated that there is still time
for the U.S. to change its mind, given that the visit will
not be officially announced until much closer to the travel
date. Either way, Suzuki promised to provide detailed
readouts, both in Washington and in Tokyo, after the visit.


7. (C) Separately, Embassy Tokyo learned from the Israeli
Embassy later in the day that their Ambassador, who is seeing
Suzuki on other business, also plans to make the case for
cancelling the Nakasone visit, after hearing about Ambassador
Fujisaki's discussions from the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
ZUMWALT