VZCZCXRO4583
OO RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #1154/01 3572147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 232147Z DEC 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7909
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001154
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM MNUC ETTC KNNP IR UNSC
SUBJECT: IRAN: CONCERN OVER IAEA REPORT, SANCTIONS
VIOLATIONS
USUN NEW Y 00001154 001.2 OF 002
1. SUMMARY: On June 15, the chair of the Security Council's
Iran Sanctions Committee ("1737 Committee") briefed the
Council on the Committee's activities over the previous
ninety days, highlighting the response to two reported
sanctions violations and noting "with grave concern an
apparent pattern of sanctions violations." Ambassador Rice
highlighted troubling findings in the IAEA Director General's
latest report, condemned the pattern of sanctions violations
and said recent events underscored the need for full
implementation of UN sanctions on Iran. If Iran continues to
fail to meet its obligations, she said, then the
international community will have to consider further
actions. The UK and French Perm Reps expressed similar
concerns, with both calling for new sanctions if Iran
continues to reject engagement. The Libyan Perm Rep
criticized the Council's lack of attention to Israel's
nuclear program. The Russian Perm Rep called the Iranian
nuclear issue "not simple," held open the possibility for
renewed dialogue and asserted that Iran was taking seriously
the signal sent by the recent IAEA Board of Governors
resolution. The Chinese Perm Rep also suggested that there
was still space for the international community to resume
talks with Iran. END SUMMARY.
2. On December 10, Japanese Perm Rep Takasu, chair of the
Security Council's Iran Sanctions Committee ("1737
Committee"), briefed the Council on the Committee's
activities over the previous ninety days. He explained that
during this reporting period the Committee had received two
reports of sanctions violations, both were violations of the
export ban on arms and related materiel from Iran contained
in resolution 1747. Takasu said that the Committee has
studied these reports and "notes with grave concern an
apparent pattern of sanctions violations involving prohibited
arms transfers from Iran."
3. Takasu explained the circumstances of the two reported
violations (the "Hansa India" and the "Francop" incidents)
and described the Committee's initial efforts to write to the
two states involved in the prohibited transfer to ask for an
explanation. In both instances, he said, the state that
reported the incident said that it had retained and stored
the cargo.
4. Ambassador Rice said the IAEA Director General's latest
report on Iran underscored Iran's refusal to comply with its
international obligations and fully cooperate with the IAEA.
She listed specific findings in that report regarding Iran's
non-cooperation. Rice condemned the three sanctions
violations reported to the 1737 Committee this year, all
involving the transfer of arms or ammunition from Iran to
Syria. Rice applauded the responsible actions of Member
States to disrupt these illicit arms transfers and encouraged
the Committee to respond vigorously. Recent events, she
said, including the discovery of the Qom facility, Iran's
announced intention to build new enrichment plants, Iran's
prohibited arms transfers, underscored the renewed urgency of
robust implementation of UN sanctions on Iran. Rice
regretted Iran's failure to take advantage of the
IAEA-brokered deal regarding the transfer of material for the
Tehran Research Reactor (TRR). She reaffirmed U.S.
willingness to engage with Iran, but added that "should Iran
continue to fail to meet its obligations, the international
community will have to consider further actions."
5. French Perm Rep Araud also condemned the pattern of arms
transfers from Iran, saying that they were destabilizing the
region and that he was not happy with a response that
consisted only of writing letters that received no reply. He
regretted Iran's refusal to accept the TRR deal, noted Iran's
violations of its IAEA obligations and highlighted elements
of the November 27 IAEA Board of Governors resolution. "If
Iran continues to be in violation of five Security Council
resolutions," Araud said, "then we must move to a new
sanctions resolution."
6. UK Perm Rep Lyall-Grant also referred to the "pattern" of
sanctions violations and thanked states for their prompt and
responsible actions to indict and report the illicit
transfer. Lyall-Grant also highlighted troubling elements of
the IAEA Director General's recent report, including its
findings about the Qom enrichment facility. He called the
TRR deal a fair offer and said Iran's approach of delaying
discussions was an attempt to "buy time and divide the
international community." Lyall-Grant urged Iran to accept
the outstretched hand offered to it, but added that if Iran
chooses not to engage then further sanctions are needed.
7. Libyan Deputy Perm Rep Dabbashi called for the peaceful
USUN NEW Y 00001154 002.2 OF 002
resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue. He drew a negative
parallel with Iraq, saying "what happened in Iraq, should not
happen elsewhere, especially not based upon groundless
information." He criticized the Security Council's lack of
action regarding Israel's nuclear program and Israel's
refusal to allow IAEA inspections of its nuclear facilities.
8. Russian Perm Rep Churkin said the 1737 Committee should
continue considering the reported sanctions violations and
act within the letter and spirit of its mandate. The Iranian
nuclear issue is, he said, "not simple" and the six countries
principally involved had not discarded the possibility of
renewed dialogue. Churkin called for patience and calm,
saying he believed Iran was taking seriously the signal sent
by the recent IAEA Board of Governors resolution.
9. Chinese Perm Rep Zhang noted the "different views" on the
TRR deal, but said that the path to resolving the Iranian
nuclear issues is still not blocked and there is space for
the international community to resume talks. This may
require, he said, more time and patience. Zhang reiterated
support for the peaceful resolution of the issue through
diplomatic means.
RICE