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P 111058Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002640 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2026 
TAGS: KNUC PARM PREL UN IR TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY CALLS ON IRAN TO STOP URANIUM ENRICHMENT 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 2598 
     ¶B. ANKARA 2595 
 
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The MFA characterized Turkey's May 8 talks 
with visiting Iranian Supreme National Security Council 
Secretary Ali Larijani as direct.  Larijani took a hard line 
 
SIPDIS 
on Iran's right to nuclear energy and Turkey responded that 
the onus is on Iran to overcome international suspicions and 
to identify a diplomatic solution, underscoring that Turkey 
will abide by a UNSC resolution on this issue.  MFA Deputy 
Director General (DDG) for Arms Control and Disarmament Meric 
said Larijani presented the issue as a bilateral problem with 
the US and called the nuclear controversy a smoke screen for 
US plans for regime change.  Larijani also highlighted Iran's 
partnership with Turkey against the PKK terrorist threat and 
suggested establishment of an Iranian, Iraqi and Turkish 
trilateral effort to combat the PKK.  While Turkey is firmly 
in the international camp, some in the government share 
Iran's suspicions about US motives.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) In a May 10 briefing to foreign embassies, MFA DDG 
Bulent Meric and DDG for South Asia Affairs Babur Hizlan said 
that in separate meetings held at Iran's request with PM 
Erdogan, FM Gul and NSC Secretary-General Alpogan (FM and NSC 
meetings reported reftels), the Iranian nuclear negotiator 
took a hard line on Iran's right to a nuclear energy program, 
repeating the well-worn lines that Iran: 
 
- advocates peaceful uses of nuclear energy to meet its 
growing energy needs (Larijani purportedly expressed 
uncertainty about the level of uranium enrichment already 
conducted in Iran but claimed that it would not go above the 
5% allowed for R&D); 
 
- has the right, on the basis of international agreements, to 
develop a nuclear energy program; and 
 
- is determined "not to flinch" on this policy. 
 
¶3. (C) According to Meric, Larijani said Iran is waiting for 
the UNSC P-5 to respond to it's April 27 letter to the IAEA 
and "do its part" to resolve the crisis.  Larijani insinuated 
that the issue at stake is much bigger than Iran's nuclear 
program, suggesting that the US desires a regime change in 
Iran as part of the Broader Middle East and North Africa 
initiative.  Meric said Larijani claimed the US is using the 
nuclear issue as a pretext to destabilize the region and 
discredit Iran in the eyes of the international community. 
He asked Turkey to help Iran change the direction of the 
international response to its nuclear program.  Meric stated 
that Turkey pushed back, insisting that the issue is between 
Iran and the international community, not Iran and the US, 
and that Iran needs to find a diplomatic way out of the 
crisis. 
 
¶4. (C) Meric said Larijani assured Turkey that Iran favors a 
diplomatic solution but also underscored that it is prepared 
for any eventuality.  He indicated Iran's determination not 
to back down and reportedly said that if Iran is faced with a 
UN Chapter 7 resolution, it will cut off its cooperation with 
the IAEA.  Hizlan said the Turkish Embassy in Tehran is 
reporting capital flight from the country and a growing 
concern about economic sanctions. 
 
TURKEY TOES THE INTERNATIONAL LINE 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Meric and Hizlan described Turkey's response as direct 
and consistent with the international community position.  We 
were told Turkey emphasized at each meeting: Iran's failure 
to convince the international community that its nuclear 
intentions are peaceful; the international community's 
suspicion that Iran is acting contrary to its 
non-proliferation treaty responsibilities; and Iran's lack of 
response to UN and IAEA recommendations to diffuse the 
situation.  Meric said Turkey expressed dismay over President 
Ahmadinejad's April 11 statement about Iran's intention to 
join "the nuclear club" and urged the Iranian government to 
comply fully with the IAEA recommendations to suspend its 
 
ANKARA 00002640  002 OF 002 
 
 
uranium enrichment program and accept Russia's offer to 
produce nuclear power. 
 
ANOTHER PKK TRILATERAL GROUP? 
----------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Larijani also raised the PKK under the pretext of 
regional security, according to Meric.  Furthering his 
anti-US propaganda, Larijani is reported to have said that 
the PKK is a tool of the US and that US military commanders 
have had discussions with senior PKK officials in Mosul and 
Kirkuk, Iraq within the past month.  (Comment: Larijani said 
much the same to the press; we issued a denial.  End 
Comment.)  He noted Iranian extradition of PKK suspects to 
Turkey and offered to establish a trilateral (Iraq, Iran, 
Turkey) forum to combat the PKK.  Meric said Turkey was 
non-committal on this concept, agreeing only to take it under 
advisement.  When pressed, he said Turkey doesn't believe the 
time is right for such a trilateral effort since the Iraqi 
government is not yet fully formed. 
 
WHERE TO GO FROM HERE? 
---------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) PM Erdogan and Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who just 
met on the margins of an Organization for Economic 
Cooperation conference in Baku, have agreed to meet again on 
the margins of a D-8 meeting on May 13 in Bali.  In response 
to our question about the value of another meeting so soon, 
Meric responded that the UN Security Council could make a 
decision between now and then which might merit discussion. 
 
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ 
 
WILSON