Mexico Urges Continued Negotiation with Iran

C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 000099 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/12 TAGS: PARM MX PREL IR UNSC SUBJECT: Mexico Urges Continued Negotiation with Iran REF: 10 STATE 9124; STATE 120288 DERIVED FROM: DSCG 05-1 B, D ¶1. Poloff met with Julian Juarez Cadenas, the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Director General for Nuclear, Security, and Legal Issues February 8 to express the USG's concerns about Iran's perpetuation of its nuclear program and unresponsiveness to outreach on behalf of the USG, IAEA, and the P5+1. Poloff highlighted to Juarez that President Obama has emphasized his willingness to negotiate directly with Iran. Poloff also delineated Iran's failure to take advantage of constructive opportunities to cooperate fully with the IAEA, such as refuel for the Tehran Research Reactor and delivery of 1200kgs of Iranian low enriched uranium abroad (Reftel). At the same time, Iran has continued to develop a clandestine nuclear facility at a military base near Qom. ¶2. Juarez told Poloff that the GOM has expressed concerns to the IAEA Board of Governors regarding the timing of Iran's development of nuclear facilities at Qom, as UNSC resolutions require Iran to report the development of any new nuclear facilities immediately. However, Juarez emphasized that Iran's fault lay in its delay in reporting, not the development of the technology. Juarez said the GOM respects the right of all countries to develop peaceful nuclear technology. ¶3. Juarez still sees space for further negotiation between the USG, P5+1, and Iran, and he urged that further outreach before the USG moved for UNSC action. Poloff underscored that Iran had squandered many opportunities and asked that the GOM to press Iran to act more constructively. Juarez responded that Mexico rarely encounters Iranian officials, except at the Presidential and Foreign Ministerial-levels. On those occasions, he said, President Calderon and FM Espinosa urge Iran to find a solution to its nuclear issue by proving its peaceful intent and receiving more inspectors. PASCUAL