Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Iran's Nuclear Program

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P 010218Z DEC 09
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002743

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 NUCLEAR PROGRAM

1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning
included a meeting on Monday of the Government
Revitalization Unit, during which members confirmed the
Hatoyama administration's policy to "respect" the
results of the recent screening of budget requests in
formulating the state budget for fiscal 2010.

2. "Mutual Distrust Deepening between Iran and U.S.,
Europe" The liberal Asahi reported from Tehran (12/1):
"Iran clearly demonstrated its confrontational position
against the international community by announcing its
plans to build ten uranium enrichment facilities. This
exposed the depth of mutual distrust between Iran and
the U.S. and Europe. While the Ahmadinejad
administration was unable to form a national consensus
through dialogue, the U.S. and Europe intensified their
pressure on the nation and Tehran overreacted to it.
There is a possibility that the confrontation will
escalate further and that discussions will move toward
additional sanctions on Iran."

3. "U.S. Considering Stepping Up Its Own Sanctions on
Iran?" The moderate Yomiuri reported from Washington
(12/1): "Taking the Iranian government's decision to
construct ten new uranium enrichment facilities as a
challenge to the global community, the Obama
administration is apparently planning to accelerate
discussions on sanctions on Iran. Ostensibly, the U.S.
will likely watch for Tehran's next move through the
end of the year. However, Washington will probably hold
full-fledged discussions on whether to reinforce its
own sanctions on top of additional UN Security Council
sanctions in the view that Iran is unlikely to soften
its position."

4. "Iran Trying to Extract Concessions from
International Community?" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun
wrote from Berlin (12/1): "Iran has announced that it
plans to build ten new uranium enrichment facilities.
Resolving this issue through dialogue will become
impossible if Tehran turns its back on an IAEA
resolution and proceeds with the project. However,
there is also the question of whether Iran, which is
under economic sanctions, is capable of constructing
multiple facilities. There is a view that Tehran made
the move in order to extract concessions from the
international community."

ROOS

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