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