CANADA TO RAISE IRAN CONCERNS - AGAIN - WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000963 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2013 TAGS: PARM KNNP ENRG IR CA IAEA SUBJECT: CANADA TO RAISE IRAN CONCERNS - AGAIN - WITH EL-BARADEI REF: STATE 79477 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In response to Under Secretary Bolton's request, Canada will make reftel demarche to IAEA Director General El-Baradei as soon as possible through the Canadian Head of Mission in Vienna. Terry Wood, Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for Non-Proliferation, told us that the more Canada learns about the Iranian nuclear program the greater its concern. He said that Canada will also stress the threat this poses to the IAEA's credibility. Indications that El-Baradei is prepared to take a "flexible approach," as an enticement for Iran to do the right thing, are disturbing. Iran, Wood continued, cannot be held to a lower standard than Canada and other IAEA members, who must comply to the letter with their safeguards agreements. ¶2. (C) Wood said that after El-Baradei's visit to Iran, the IAEA Secretariat briefed the Canadian Mission on February 27. The Canadian Head of Mission met with El-Baradei later that day to express Canadian concerns about the results of the visit, and made a "firm" statement on Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in March. Canada was subsequently approached by the U.S. and the UK about convening an informal group of IAEA members to address the Iran situation. The Canadian Head of Mission will be hosting a meeting on April 10 to assess interest in such a group. If there is sufficient interest, then this will be another occasion to meet with El-Baradei. ¶3. (U) Wood also confirmed that Jim Wright, Foreign Affairs Assistant Deputy Minister for Global and Security Policy, will be in Paris April 7-8 for the G-8 Senior Officials meeting. CELLUCCI