Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10KUALALUMPUR90
2010-02-11 09:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA IN LISTENING MODE ON NEED TO PRESSURE IRAN
how-toVZCZCXRO1105 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0090 0420931 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 110931Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3771 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2696 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0234 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2917 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0706 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0207 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0244
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000090
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2020
TAGS: PREL PARM PGOV IR MY IAEA
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA IN LISTENING MODE ON NEED TO PRESSURE IRAN
REF: A. STATE 9124 - PRESSURE TO PERSUADE IRAN
B. KL 80 - GOM ANNOUNCES NEW IAEA GOVERNOR
Classified By: POLCOUNS Brian McFeeters for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000090
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2020
TAGS: PREL PARM PGOV IR MY IAEA
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA IN LISTENING MODE ON NEED TO PRESSURE IRAN
REF: A. STATE 9124 - PRESSURE TO PERSUADE IRAN
B. KL 80 - GOM ANNOUNCES NEW IAEA GOVERNOR
Classified By: POLCOUNS Brian McFeeters for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: MFA Assistant Secretary for Nonproliferation
and Arms Control Shazryll Zahiran, responding to ref A points
that Iran's continued non-compliance with UN and IAEA
obligations regarding its nuclear program deserves the urgent
attention of the international community, agreed that Iran
had "never complied" with UNSCR requirements in place since
2006, especially on enrichment of uranium. At the same time,
Shazryll said, the GOM had not concluded that Iran was
pursuing a nuclear weapons program, lacking sufficient
information about Iran's intentions. He noted that
Malaysia's Foreign Minister had recently received an
invitation to a nuclear issues summit that Iran was planning
in Teheran during April 18-20; the GOM was undecided on
attending. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) In reply to reftel points about the recent record of
attempted negotiation with Iran and concerns about Iran's
continued non-compliance with UN and IAEA requirements, MFA
Assistant Secretary for Nonproliferation and Arms Control
Shazryll told Polcouns that he understood why negotiators
might conclude that Iran was simply seeking continued delay,
likening Iran to North Korea. Mentioning UNSCR resolutions
on Iran including UNSCR 1696 (2006),1737 (2006),and 1747
(2007),Shazryll said that Iran had "never complied" with
UNSCR resolutions, especially the repeated requirement to
cease enriching uranium. Nevertheless, the GOM was not ready
to conclude that Iran was determined to produce nuclear
weapons, lacking sufficient information.
3. (C) Shazryll said he found Iran's recent behavior
puzzling, but that the GOM had no dialogue with Iran on
nuclear issues, so he could offer no insights. The GOM
sought occasions in international fora to remind Iran to
comply with IAEA safeguards and UN requirements, but it was a
"one way" conversation because Iranian officials never
replied. The GOM would continue to try to persuade Iran to
comply with existing requirements at the IAEA, Shazryll
added, expressing GOM appreciation for the USG supporting its
new Governor to the IAEA, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Bin Yaakob,
in his bid to become IAEA Board of Governors Chair (ref B).
4. (C) Shazryll mentioned that Foreign Minister Anifah Aman
had received an invitation to attend Iran's leaders' summit
on nuclear issues just after the Nuclear Security Summit
(NSS) in Washington, DC; expected dates were April 18-20. He
noted that the initial Iranian trial balloon was to hold the
conference at the same time as the NSS, but a number of
countries had dissuaded Iran from that idea. The GOM had not
yet decided on whether to attend and, if so, at what level.
KEITH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2020
TAGS: PREL PARM PGOV IR MY IAEA
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA IN LISTENING MODE ON NEED TO PRESSURE IRAN
REF: A. STATE 9124 - PRESSURE TO PERSUADE IRAN
B. KL 80 - GOM ANNOUNCES NEW IAEA GOVERNOR
Classified By: POLCOUNS Brian McFeeters for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: MFA Assistant Secretary for Nonproliferation
and Arms Control Shazryll Zahiran, responding to ref A points
that Iran's continued non-compliance with UN and IAEA
obligations regarding its nuclear program deserves the urgent
attention of the international community, agreed that Iran
had "never complied" with UNSCR requirements in place since
2006, especially on enrichment of uranium. At the same time,
Shazryll said, the GOM had not concluded that Iran was
pursuing a nuclear weapons program, lacking sufficient
information about Iran's intentions. He noted that
Malaysia's Foreign Minister had recently received an
invitation to a nuclear issues summit that Iran was planning
in Teheran during April 18-20; the GOM was undecided on
attending. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) In reply to reftel points about the recent record of
attempted negotiation with Iran and concerns about Iran's
continued non-compliance with UN and IAEA requirements, MFA
Assistant Secretary for Nonproliferation and Arms Control
Shazryll told Polcouns that he understood why negotiators
might conclude that Iran was simply seeking continued delay,
likening Iran to North Korea. Mentioning UNSCR resolutions
on Iran including UNSCR 1696 (2006),1737 (2006),and 1747
(2007),Shazryll said that Iran had "never complied" with
UNSCR resolutions, especially the repeated requirement to
cease enriching uranium. Nevertheless, the GOM was not ready
to conclude that Iran was determined to produce nuclear
weapons, lacking sufficient information.
3. (C) Shazryll said he found Iran's recent behavior
puzzling, but that the GOM had no dialogue with Iran on
nuclear issues, so he could offer no insights. The GOM
sought occasions in international fora to remind Iran to
comply with IAEA safeguards and UN requirements, but it was a
"one way" conversation because Iranian officials never
replied. The GOM would continue to try to persuade Iran to
comply with existing requirements at the IAEA, Shazryll
added, expressing GOM appreciation for the USG supporting its
new Governor to the IAEA, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Bin Yaakob,
in his bid to become IAEA Board of Governors Chair (ref B).
4. (C) Shazryll mentioned that Foreign Minister Anifah Aman
had received an invitation to attend Iran's leaders' summit
on nuclear issues just after the Nuclear Security Summit
(NSS) in Washington, DC; expected dates were April 18-20. He
noted that the initial Iranian trial balloon was to hold the
conference at the same time as the NSS, but a number of
countries had dissuaded Iran from that idea. The GOM had not
yet decided on whether to attend and, if so, at what level.
KEITH