VZCZCXRO9604
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHRB #0132/01 0251552
ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZDS ZDK
O 251552Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2582
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 1126
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0421
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0025
RHEHNC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000132 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R  C T E D  C O P Y (TEXT IN PARA 1 AND PARA 4) 
 
SIDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2011 
TAGS: KNNP GOV PREL MO
SUBJECT: IRAN:  CODEL DUNCAN WEIGHS IN 
 
REF: RABAT 115 
 
RABAT 00000132  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Wayne J. Bush for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  On January 25, Codel Duncan, visiting 
Morocco January 24-26, stressed to Deputy FM Fassi Fihri US 
concerns with Iran's development of a nuclear program and 
encouraged Morocco to put its weight behind US and European 
efforts to reign in the Iranians within the framework of the 
UNSC.  Fassi Fihri said that during his January 20 visit to 
Morocco, Iranian Envoy Ahmad Musavi tried to convince Morocco 
that Iran had the right to develop nuclear capacity and that 
the Muslim world needs a strong man as a deterrent to Western 
"aggression."  Morocco told Musavi that Iran must comply with 
international law and non-proliferation conventions.  Fassi 
Fihri cited potential harm to Morocco's interests that Iran's 
actions could cause.  He said that Morocco is pleased with US 
efforts to deal with the issue multilaterally and emphasized 
that another war must be avoided at all costs.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C) Following a Country Team briefing at the Ambassador's 
residence on January 25, Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL), 
member of the Armed Services Committee and a member of Codel 
Duncan that is visiting Morocco January 24-26 (septel), 
conveyed to Deputy Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri US 
concerns about Iran's development of nuclear capability. 
Congressman Miller stressed the importance to the US Congress 
and the American people that Morocco support US and European 
efforts to reign in the Iranians within the framework of the 
UNSC. 
 
Understanding Iranian Motivations 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Fassi Fihri said that Morocco is deeply concerned 
about the evolution of the problem and is trying to 
understand the nature of Iran's calculations.  Ticking off a 
list of plausible motivations for Iran's behavior, Fassi 
Fihri said Morocco wondered whether:  1) it is a purely 
domestic issue championed by new, populist Iranian President 
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; 2) Tehran is using the issue to express 
its belief that Iran should be involved in resolving the 
situation in Iraq; or 3) Iran seeks to leverage the issue in 
a push to maximize solidarity with southern hemisphere 
countries.  He noted that Iran may also be seizing on the 
backdrop of Palestinian elections on January 25 and the 
international focus on Syria as a pretext for advancing its 
nuclear program. 
 
Iranian Envoy:  "We Have the Right" 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Fassi Fihri said that Iranian Vice President in 
Charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Special Envoy, Ahmad 
Musavi, visited Morocco January 20 (reftel).  King Mohammed 
VI did not/not receive him, but Prime Minister Driss Jettou 
did.  Musavi tried to convince Morocco that Iran has the 
right to develop nuclear capacity because "others did before 
us," according to Fassi Fihri.  Musavi argued that the Muslim 
world needs the capacity to show strength in order to deter 
"aggressive" actions by the West.  (Comment:  According to 
the official GOM press release following the visit, Musavi 
expressed to PM Jettou Iran's attachment to international 
conventions on the use of nuclear energy and its willingness 
to pursue negotiations in this area.) 
 
¶5.  (C) According to Fassi Fihri, Morocco conveyed to Iran 
the importance of complying with international law and 
conventions.  Iran had no right to "spoil" the future of 
Morocco, which with rising oil prices, Fassi Fihri said, will 
not be able to survive economically without diversifying its 
dependence on imported oil.  Noting that Morocco would become 
a member of the IAEA's council of governors in July, Fassi 
Fihri indicated that Morocco's goal was to cooperate with the 
IAEA, implement the relevant treaties, and sign the 
appropriate international protocols so that it might proceed 
with development of a nuclear research reactor for the 
purposes of supplying domestic power.  (Comment: Implicit in 
Fassi Fihri's remarks was concern that an international 
embargo on Iran's oil would hurt Morocco by driving oil 
prices up and that Iran's aggressive approach could harm 
Morocco's ability to develop a peaceful nuclear energy 
program in the future.) 
 
US Position Satisfactory 
------------------------ 
 
 
RABAT 00000132  002.4 OF 002 
 
 
¶6.  (C) Morocco is gratified by indications that the US 
favors a multilateral approach to dealing with the Iran 
issue, commented Fassi Fihri.  Morocco was hopeful that the 
IAEA and the UNSC could find a solution, whether it takes the 
form of an embargo, political pressure, or some other 
peaceful resolution.  Another war, however, must be avoided 
at all costs, Fassi Fihri believed; armed conflict would be a 
"catastrophe" for the entire region.  Further deterioration 
of the situation in the Middle East, continued Fassi Fihri, 
would have direct repercussions on the stability in countries 
all over the world. 
 
Iran Too Belligerent on Israel 
------------------------------ 
 
¶7.  (C) Referencing Iranian President Ahmadinejad recent 
anti-Israel comments, including his desire to see the 
Israelis "pushed into the Mediterranean Sea," Fassi Fihri 
said that Morocco cannot accept that a foreign leader make 
such belligerent statements about Israel.  Morocco, he 
confided, remains deeply interested in the 600,000 Jewish 
Moroccans who left their birthland to reside in Israel. 
 
¶8.  (U) Codel Duncan did not have an opportunity to clear 
this message. 
****************************************** 
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat 
****************************************** 
 
Riley