Cablegate: Iran: Initial Iranian Press Reports On Geneva Meetings

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RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDIR #0407 2771356
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041356Z OCT 09
FM RPO DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0553
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHDIR/RPO DUBAI 0554

UNCLAS RPO DUBAI 000407

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM IR
SUBJECT: IRAN: INITIAL IRANIAN PRESS REPORTS ON GENEVA MEETINGS
FACTUAL, POSITIVE

REF: RICHARDSON-NEA/IR E-MAIL 10/2/09

1. This cable repeats ref e-mail.

2. Inititial Iranian press coverage of the P5+1 negotiations in
Geneva and the bilateral meeting between U/S Burns and Iranian
negotiator Jalili has been factual, without editorial comment.
Coverage in the sources we checked was positive, drawing on
statements by Jalili and EU Representative Solana during the
post-negotiation press conference in characterizing the meeting.
The President's statement and the Secretary's remarks were also
reported by some Iranian media.

3. Jalili's comments that Iran has not surrendered it's nuclear
rights, that it has called for global nuclear disarmament, and
that its proposed framework for negotiations was the basis for
talks was reported extensively. The moderate Iranian Students
News Agency (ISNA) led its story on Jalili's press conference
with his statement that negotiations would continue. It also
reported his characterization of the negotiations as positive
and based on dialogue in areas of common interest. Ayande News
and other outlets reported Iran's agreement to allow IAEA
inspectors access to the newly disclosed second uranium
enrichment facility near Qom and the agreement to further enrich
Iranian uranium outside Iran for use in Iran's research reactor,
quoting Solana.

4. Tabnak, which is owned by Expediency Council Secretary and
former presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaei, quoted a British
Foreign Office spokesman contradicting Iranian claims that its
framework had been agreed, while noting Jalili's statements on
Iran's nuclear rights and the need for global disarmament.
Opposition website Rahesabz reported that while some state media
had hailed Iran's assertion of its rights, Western media had
focused on Iran's agreement to inspections at Qom and acceptance
of enrichment outside the country in a story headlined, "Geneva
Talks: Iran's Retreat, Western Optimism."

5. The centrist Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA) ran a separate
story on the President's statement. It quoted him as saying
that the Geneva meeting was a constructive beginning but that
Iran must take practical steps to make its nuclear activities
more transparent and to cooperate with the IAEA and
international community. ILNA also reported the President's
warning that Iran would face increased pressure if it was not
more forthcoming. Rahesabz reported the President's remarks,
including US support for Iran's right to nuclear energy and the
US commitment to negotiations, as well as his comment that the
US is not interested in talking for the sake of talking.
Semi-official, right-wing Fars News, which has ties to the IRGC,
quoted the Secretary's comment that the talks were constructive
but that Iran needed to take observable actions toward meeting
the international community's concerns.

6. Iranian press gave considerable coverage to the bilateral
meeting between U/S Burns and Jalili. While little coverage
went beyond the Department's announcement that the meeting had
taken place, Tabnak noted that unlike Iran's previous
discussions on the nuclear issue, this time it was face-to-face
with the US. Rahesabz described the meeting as "unprecedented."
Rajanews, which is thought to be affiliated with President
Ahmadinejad, also reported that the meeting had occurred.

7. Editorial comment will likely come over the next several
days. Most Iranian news organizations do not publish on Friday,
and the IRIG is likely in the process of determining the tone of
editorials in state-run and semi-official media.

EYRE

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