IRANIAN SPEAKER LARIJANI'S VISIT TO JAPAN

S E C R E T TOKYO 000364 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/IR AND EAP/J E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2020 TAGS: PARM PGOV PHUM PREL ETRD IR JA SUBJECT: IRANIAN SPEAKER LARIJANI'S VISIT TO JAPAN REF: A. STATE 16678 ¶B. CROSBY-HOTZ E-MAIL 2/23/10 Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Marc Knapper per reasons 1.4( b) and (d) ¶1. (S) On February 24, Embassy Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MOFA Second Middle East Division Deputy Director Kenji Enoshita urging that Japan continue to stand with the United States in pressing Iran to comply with its UNSC, NPT, and IAEA obligations. Poloff also raised U.S. concerns regarding the human rights situation in Iran, the need to avoid new commercial deals with Iran, and how Iran would likely use the publicity surrounding Larijani's visit to its advantage in projecting international legitimacy. Poloff also noted that the Deputy Secretary had raised similar points with Ambassador Fujisaki on February 23. ¶2. (S) Responding that the GOJ understood the need for a firm stance with Iran, Enoshita said that the GOJ was mindful of the potential that Iran could manipulate the visit's public message. Referring to the Deputy Secretary's conversation with Ambassador Fujisaki, Enoshita said that the Deputy Secretary expressed concern about reports that an unspecified Japanese oil company may preparing to renew its contract with Iran. Enoshita said MOFA was unaware of this allegation and plans to investigate. He made clear that MOFA was dismayed by such reports and did not approve of the possible transaction. Enoshita pledged that MOFA would provide the Embassy a read-out of the Larijani visit. ROOS