Cable No. 1368, Charge d’Affaires Tanabe to the Foreign Minister, 'Problem of the Release of the American Hostages (Meeting of Special Envoy Nakayama and Deputy Foreign Minister Ardebili)'

Number: R107149

Primary: Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Director-General

Sent: Iran, August 6, 1985, 23:59

Received: MOFA, August 7, 1985, 06:45

To: The Foreign Minister      

From: Tanabe, Charge d’Affaires ad interim

Problem of the Release of the American Hostages (Meeting of Special Envoy Nakayama and Deputy Foreign Minister Ardebili)

No. 1368  Secret Top Urgent

(Limited Distribution)

Re: Your Telegram, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Director-General’s Telegram No. 616

From 11:10 on the morning of the 6^th, for an hour and 20 minutes, Special Envoy Nakayama and Deputy Foreign Minister Ardebili met at the Iranian Foreign Ministry. A summary of the meeting’s main points follows below. (Other officials and I attended on our side; Seventh Political Bureau Director Morshedzadeh and others attended on the other side).

Deputy Minister Ardebili:

Following the visit of Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani to Japan, there is hope for further expansion of relations between Japan and Iran. It is important to build up a strong relationship of trust in relations between Japan and Iran, which is tied to the further development of the bilateral relationship. It is gratifying that you have realized your visit to Iran, Special Envoy, as a followup to Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani’s visit to Japan. I am happy to have contributed personally, if only modestly, to the development of the Japan-Iran relationship and would like to talk with you on issues in Japan-Iran relations from this point onward.

Special Envoy Nakayama:

I have heard much about you since from before the visit of Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani to Japan. I know, Deputy Minister, that you built the fire of the present relationship of friendship between Japan and Iran, symbolized by Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani’s visit to Japan.

I have come with a letter from Prime Minister Nakasone to Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani. I intend to deliver this letter directly to Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani. In light of how delicate and difficult my mission is, however, and this is a departure from the usual practice, I would like you to read a copy of this letter and understand my mission. In this letter, my mission is perfectly explained.

Deputy Minister Ardebili:

(After reading the copy of the letter), Special Envoy, I know that preparations have already been made for Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani’s meeting with you. Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani is in a better position to be able to respond to you.

The issues raised in Prime Minister Nakasone’s letter are related to the deepening of bilateral understanding between Japan and Iran. On these points, Japan and Iran must mutually make efforts.　Japan and Iran should deepen mutual understanding. It will not do for different views between Japan and Iran on a number of points in various international problems to hinder the expansion and development of the Japan-Iran bilateral relationship. In regard to international terrorism, the positions of our two countries differ. I would like you to understand that Iran has its own position. Also, based on the premise of different views between our two countries, I think that Japan and Iran engaging in exchanges of views is useful in deepening mutual understanding. For example, at the time of Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani’s visit to Japan, I know that explaining the Iranian side’s position on the Iran-Iraq conflict and the international situation was useful in deepening the Japanese side’s understanding. In the letter, it says that your country praises the Iranian side’s efforts in regard to the TWA Incident. Resolution of that incident was directly due to Syria’s efforts. I ask you to understand that there are limits to Iran’s influence in this kind of problem.

Special Envoy Nakayama:

The mission that I have been given is not an easy one. I would like to obtain not only your public support, Deputy Minister, but your private support as well.

Our country, both the Government of Japan and the Japanese people, highly appraise the visit to Japan of Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani and, on the basis of his visit to Japan, we are making efforts for the further development of the Japan-Iran bilateral relationship in such fields as politics, the economy, and technology. In particular, Prime Minister Nakasone and Minister Abe are making efforts to obtain concrete results and hope that their efforts bear fruit in the near future.

Our country has been working towards the creation of an environment for the early and peaceful resolution of the conflict and the prevention of its expansion. We hope that your country and the others involved find a realistic way, but I do not intend on this visit to Iran to go into the problem of peace.

Japan and Iran agree on the point of renouncing international terrorism. Also, our country highly appraises your country’s efforts in the TWA Incident. In this connection, it is regrettable that the foreigners, including the seven Americans, remain held in Lebanon. Those foreigners should be promptly released. If your country thinks the exercising of its influence in some form for this is possible, then we would be grateful for your country exerting as much effort as possible. This kind of international terrorism spreads around the world a malaise whose influence Japan, too, seems unable to avoid. Our country, too, in light of the importance of establishing international peace, cannot be indifferent.

Prime Minister Nakasone and Minister Abe [TN: section blacked out] … confidentially told me.

Deputy Minister Ardebili:

The development of the Japan-Iran bilateral relationship, in particular the development of cooperative relations in the field of the economy, is the center of Iran’s interest. We must work together and achieve our our mutual interests.

Regarding Iran’s position on the Iran-Iraq conflict, it was already discussed at the time of Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani’s visit to Japan.  Iran, together with securing its just rights, hopes that enduring peace and stability are established in this region. For this, the punishment of the invaders, that is to say, the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime, is necessary.

Japan and Iran agree on the point of renouncing international terrorism, but the problem lies in what should be considered terrorism. We (Iran) do not criticize as terrorism a great power’s using advanced weapons and committing illegal acts on a large scale in a third country in the name of protecting its own interests, and we cannot criticize as terrorism individuals or specific groups carrying out acts using knives and such to recover their own just rights. There is here a difference of political views.

Regarding the problem of the American hostages, I understand that there has already been discussion on it. Iran denies connection in any form to it. In addition, Iran has only a limited influence in a third country. Therefore, it is not the case that Iran can achieve everything. Even if there were hope regarding Iran for an outcome similar to that of the TWA Incident, that may not necessarily be achieved. In any case, in regard to this problem, the situation is a complicated one. I think that it will be necessary keep an eye on future changes.

Special Envoy Nakayama:

I understand that the problem of international terrorism was already a topic in talks between Prime Minister Nakasone and Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani as well as those between Minister Abe and Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani.

I do not intend to have an academic argument on terrorism with you, Deputy Minister. My duty is to actually resolve the problem. There are various elements behind such international issues as the problem of the release of the American hostages. There is probably a case as well for that. I also understand the sense, too, of your country’s not being involved. However, our country highly appraises as an initiative for international peace the efforts made by your country in regard to the TWA Incident. As you say, Deputy Minister, your country’s influence is limited. I understand that it (this problem) will not be easily resolved, but as Prime Minister Nakasone’s special envoy, my own request is for your country once again to courageously exercise the moral influence shown in the TWA Incident.

In regard to the Iran-Iraq conflict, our country never once said that it would be a peace moderator.  However, our country desires that peace be maintained in every region of the world. If we can have your country, too, work towards the resolution of this kind of incident, which has become a source of global disorder and anxiety, then I think that our whole nation will highly appraise your country.

Deputy Minister Ardebili:

The problem is that, both Japan and Iran agree on the point of opposing international terrorism, but the problem is in different definitions of terrorism.

It is important that these problems do not hinder the development of the Japan-Iran bilateral relationship. I welcome the explanation of your country’s position (in regard to the problem of the release of the American hostages). That such an exchange of views has become possible to conduct on the basis of mutual understanding between Japan and Iran is, itself, profoundly significant. Further deepening of mutual understanding between our two countries is important.

I hope that your meeting with Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani ends in success, and I am prepared to follow up on the outcome of that meeting.

Special Envoy Nakayama:

I think that this type of exchange of views is one form of political cooperation between Japan and Iran. I think it admirable, the point to which relations between Japan and Iran have developed. I hope that, henceforth as well, exchanges of views will be continued and that cooperation between Japan and Iran in the political field will take place.

By the way, I am thinking to say in the meeting with Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani that I hope for his cooperation with Damascus (Syria’s President Assad). What do you think?

Deputy Minister Ardebili:

I do not think that speaking of Iran’s efforts in this field would be a problem in your meeting with Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani.

The resolution of the TWA Incident was a special case whose achievement was possible within a special international environment. Personally, I think that Iran was not able to exercise a decisive influence. There is no guarantee that an outcome similar to that of the TWA Incident could be achieved.

(In response to Special Envoy Nakayama’s saying that he would like to arrange to meet again after the meeting with Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani:)

If your meeting with Majlis Speaker Rafsanjani bears fruit, I think a more frank exchange of views would be possible.

Request forwarding of this telegram to the relevant diplomatic missions

[TN: completed by hand] Division Principal Deputy Director Suzuki contacted (August 7, 08:00)

(End)