INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Providing the Gof with New Information On

Published: Mon 23 Jun 2008 08:08 PM
P R 232044Z JUN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY
INFO MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME COLLECTIVE
S E C R E T STATE 067404
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2033
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MTCRE KSCA IR FI
SUBJECT: PROVIDING THE GOF WITH NEW INFORMATION ON
POSSIBLE COOPERATION BETWEEN FINNISH COMPANY AND IRANIAN
UAV PROGRAM
REF: A. 06 STATE 182797
B. 07 STATE 164860
C. STATE 38873
D. THOME-JONES E-MAIL 14 MAY 08
Classified By: ISN/MTR ACTING DIRECTOR RALPH PALMIERO.
REASON 1.4 (C).
1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Helsinki, please
see paragraph 4.
2. (S) On several occasions since 2006, we have raised our
concerns with the government of Finland regarding the Finnish
firm Vaisala Oy acting as a supplier to Iranian entities of
concern (Refs). In late 2007, we advised GOF officials that
as of mid-September 2007, Vaisala Oy had plans to sell
MAWS100 weather stations to Fan Pardazan. We also reminded
our Finnish interlocutors of information we shared with MTCR
Partners in February 2006 indicating that Fan Pardazan may be
affiliated with the Iranian UAV entity Qods Aeronautics
Industries, a UNSCR-1747 designated entity. Finnish
officials indicated that the language the USG used to
characterize Vaisala's activity was "too vague to permit the
opening of an investigation, and hoped we could offer more
specific information on the activity" (Ref D).
3. (S) Objectives: We now want to share new information with
the GOF regarding Fan Pardazan's relationship with Qods
Aeronautics Industries. Specifically, we want to advise
Finnish authorities that Fan Pardazan and Qods share the same
mailing address in Tehran. We hope this information will
encourage the GOF to investigate and take measures to prevent
Vaisala Oy from acting - even unwittingly - as a source of
supply to Iranian entities of concern.
4. (U) Action Request: Department requests Embassy Helsinki
approach appropriate host government officials to deliver the
talking points in Paragraph 5 and report response. Talking
points may be left as a non-paper.
5. (S) Begin talking points/non-paper:
(SECRET//REL FINLAND)
-- In the spirit of our nonproliferation partnership, we
would like to discuss a matter of proliferation concern.
-- In December 2007, we advised you that the Finnish firm
Vaisala Oy was planning to sell MAWS100 weather stations to
Iran's Fan Pardazan and that Fan Pardazan may have been using
the name TEM Company in an effort to procure the items.
-- We also indicated that Fan Pardazan may be affiliated with
the Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) entity, Qods (or
Ghoods) Aviation (or Aeronautics) Industries (also known as
Qods (Ghoods) Research Center).
-- Qods Aeronautics Industries is designated in Annex I of
UNSCR 1747 as an entity associated with the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
-- We understand that your government is considering opening
an investigation of this case and has asked for information
that establishes a solid link between Fan Pardazan and Qods
Aeronautics Industries.
-- We now want to share with you additional information
concerning the relationship between Fan Pardazan and Qods.
-- Specifically, Fan Pardazan and Qods Aeronautics Industries
share the same mailing address in Tehran: P.O. Box
15875-1834, Tehran, Iran.
-- We hope this information addresses your concerns, and that
it proves useful in supporting your export control efforts
and preventing entities in Finland from engaging in business
dealings that may violate UNSCR 1747.
-- We look forward to hearing the results of your inquiries
and to continued cooperation on nonproliferation issues.
END TALKING POINTS.
6. (U) Please contact ISN/MTR's Sarah Beane with any
questions or follow-up related to this case (202-647-4019 -
beanesa@state.sgov.gov) and slug reporting on this issue for
ISN/MTR and EUR/PRA.
7. (U) A word version of this document will be posted at
www.state.sgov.gov/demarche.
RICE
NNNN
End Cable Text
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