VZCZCXRO0148
OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP
RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHTRO
DE RUEHRL #1454 3210758
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 170758Z NOV 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5788
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001454 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KNNPGM IR GM
SUBJECT: IRAN: NEW GERMAN FM WESTERWELLE FOLLOWING 
CHANCELLOR MERKEL'S TOUGH STANCE 
 
Classified By: DCM Greg T. Delawie for reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
¶1.  (C/NF) SUMMARY:  After his first 2 weeks in office, 
Germany's new FM has taken clear positions on Iran.  He made 
a number of public remarks in support of Chancellor Merkel's 
"zero tolerance" for Iranian nuclear weapons, and voiced 
strong support for the dual track policy.  MFA Iran Task 
Force Director Andreas Krueger told poloff that his new 
minister's support for sanctions, should the engagement track 
fail, was strong.  Krueger also shared with poloff that the 
MFA was considering floating the idea of offering former FDP 
FM Genscher, who has a standing invitation to meet with 
Iranian President Ahmadinejad, as a possible go-between for 
Iran talks, but not without prior consultation with the P5 
plus 1.  This tracked with what Genscher himself intimated in 
a separate conversation on Iran with the Ambassador. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Way Forward:  Continue Pressure on Nuclear Issue 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2.  (C) Krueger said he admired the US administration's 
resolve and said he thought we were following the best path 
by showing patience while not yielding on the major 
principles in the Tehran Research Reactor deal.  He said 
abandoning negotiations on the nuclear issue to pursue human 
rights issues would most certainly lead to defeat in both 
camps and at least with this tactic we have a fighting chance 
of seeing some movement on the nuclear dossier. 
 
 
------------------------------ 
FM Westerwelle: The MFA's Take 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (C/NF) Krueger said many MFA career diplomats were 
initially wondering about Westerwelle's position on Iran 
sanctions.  However, in his first meeting with his current 
and former MFA state secretaries, Westerwelle came out in 
favor of strong sanctions within the dual track framework -- 
along the lines of his public statement before his meeting 
with the Secretary in Washington.  Krueger said former State 
Secretary Silberberg played a large role in arguing the 
importance of the dual track policy and in convincing 
Westerwelle of the important role credible sanctions played 
within that policy. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
Iran Talks: MFA Floats Possible Role for Former FM Genscher 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Krueger noted that Genscher, who is widely recognized 
as Westerwelle's foreign policy mentor, has a long history 
dealing with Iran.  He said the Iranians view him very 
favorably since Genscher was the first European FM to go back 
into Iran in the 1980s.  Krueger tried hard to reassure that 
they would never consider doing anything without first 
"clearing" it with the other P5 plus 1 (or at least E3 plus 
1) members, but said there are discussions percolating within 
the MFA on how one could use Genscher as an "ice-breaker" or 
"go-between" with Iran. 
 
------------------------ 
Genscher's Views on Iran 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (C/NF) In a separate conversation with Ambassador Murphy, 
Genscher shared his views on Iran.  Based on his trip to Iran 
this year, Genscher argued against sanctions on the grounds 
that they end up hurting the common man more than the ruling 
elite.  He noted the strong support from the Iranian 
population for Iran,s right to civilian nuclear energy. 
Genscher drew parallels between the Iranian regime and the 
Soviets during the Cold War and argued for the importance of 
maintaining connections with the Iranian government so that 
when the "right person" arrives on the scene, the foundation 
has been set for an "opening."  Genscher stressed the 
importance of Europe giving a "positive echo" to Obama's 
global outreach and supporting the U.S. on Iran and Russia. 
Genscher told the Ambassador that during his last visit to 
Iran he had also been invited to meet with Iranian President 
Ahmadinejad, which he declined, not wanting to get out ahead 
of the Chancellor.  He added that a subsequent invitation (to 
visit Iran and meet with Ahmadinejad) had been extended to 
him, but that he would not go without the full blessing of 
Merkel. 
MURPHY