VZCZCXRO5277
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5604 3530256
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190256Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0421
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5055
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7451
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3774
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 5692
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8720
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0721
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2018
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6770
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7492
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 005604
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - IRAN'S RELATIONS WITH
U.S. AND RUSSIA
LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers gave top
play to the rearrest of former Vice Defense Minister
Moriya on charges of accepting additional bribes from a
former managing director of a defense hardware trading
company.
1. "U.S. Approach to Iran Facing Impasse" The top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri's Washington
correspondent reported (12/19): "President Bush
expressed support on Monday for the Russian provision
of nuclear fuel to an Iranian nuclear power plant at
Bushehr by saying that Tehran no longer needs to learn
how to enrich uranium. However, given that the U.S.
initially opposed the construction of the plant because
of concerns about the facility potentially being used
for developing nuclear weapons, the president's
endorsement of the fuel transfer was an agonizing
decision. Furthermore, chances are slim that the
Iranian government will halt its uranium enrichment
program in exchange for receiving Russian fuel. Concern
is mounting in the U.S. that the Bush administration's
Iran policy has hit a snag."
2. "Russia Focusing on Nuclear Deals" A Moscow-based
reporter for the liberal Asahi wrote (12/19): "Russia
has begun the shipment of nuclear fuel to the Bushehr
nuclear power plant in Iran in the face of U.S.
concern. Moscow appears to be interested in making this
a test-case for the nuclear-fuel business it hopes to
create and expand. Iran is continuing uranium
enrichment while ignoring UN Security Council
resolutions. Moscow appears to be going ahead with the
provision on the grounds that its cooperation on this
front will help deter Tehran's nuclear development."
SCHIEFFER