VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #7071 3372356
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 022348Z DEC 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 3026
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 3164
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 9309
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 6926
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE 8468
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0995
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 2029
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 8761
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 127071
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
PARIS PASS TO USOECD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EMIN ENRG ETTC EUN IR JA KNNP MNUC PARM TRGY
IAEA
SUBJECT: UPCOMING MEETING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
NATIONAL MEASURES ON IRAN
REF: A. STATE 125658
B. STATE 125339
C. STATE 125575
D. STATE 125441
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5.
2. (SBU) OBJECTIVE: To inform our outreach partners in
Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea that they will soon
be contacted by the Government of Italy to participate in a
meeting in Rome on 12 December 2008 to discuss the
implementation of national measures on Iran.
3. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Since July 2008, the United States has
been engaged with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom in
an effort to prompt the implementation of the strongest
possible national sanctions measures on Iran in response to
its noncompliance with its international obligations. Our
goal has been two-fold: 1) to assemble a "menu of options"
for national measures that could be pursued by likeminded
states; and, 2) to use these options to prompt other states
to take similar action to create the greatest possible
pressure on Iran. Italy joined the group in October 2008.
4. (SBU) BACKGROUND CONT: Our efforts have centered on
developing a "menu of options" for such measures, focused on
four key areas: Iran's access to the international financial
system, insurance/re-insurance services, oil/gas investment
(both financial and technological), and sensitive/dual-use
items. In the financial sector, we are seeking to limit
Iran,s access to the international financial system both
through implementation of relevant provisions in UN Security
Council Resolutions 1737, 1747, and 1803 and through national
measures that are complementary to the UN framework by
calling on certain states to issue advisories consistent with
the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) warning statements
regarding Iran,s risk to the international financial system.
Regarding the insurance industry, the national measures
strategy seeks to limit Iran,s access to insurance and
re-insurance due to the risk that the Iranian regime has used
its state-owned firms to support proliferation-related
activity. With respect to energy, we are seeking to prevent
new investment and oil and gas deals with Iran and investment
that contribute to Iran,s ability to develop its energy
sector. We are also looking to prevent the transfer of
dual-use items to Iran by preventing Iran,s ability to
procure sensitive technology and equipment that might aid its
nuclear program.
5. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Using the background in paragraphs
3-4, Posts are requested to inform appropriate host
government officials that France, Germany, The United
Kingdom, and Italy intend to invite their representatives to
attend a meeting in Rome on 12 December to discuss our
ongoing effort to develop a "menu of options" for national
measures to increase the pressure on Iran. Posts should note
that a detailed agenda and invitation will be forthcoming
from the Government of Italy. Posts should emphasize that we
believe that national measures will be particularly helpful
to ensure that UN Security Council sanctions are fully
implemented and the pressure on Iran continues, in a
coordinated and robust manner. These actions will help
support our diplomatic work to persuade Iran to suspend its
enrichment related activities and enter into negotiation with
the P5 1. Posts should describe, generally, the areas of
activity that are being pursued, but stress that the meeting
on 12 December is intended to brief meeting participants on
the overall effort, as well as discuss next steps and the
role they might play in this important effort.
6. (U) Post is requested to report any substantive response
by 8 December 2008. Richard Nephew (ISN/RA, 202-647-7680,
NephewRM@state.sgov.gov) and Anthony Ruggiero (ISN/CPI,
202-647-5181, RuggieroAJ@state.sgov.gov) are the Department's
POCs for this activity.
RICE