IRAN/IAEA: ARGENTINA ON STRONG NATIONAL STATEMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 003310 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2014 TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL MNUC TRGY IR AR IAEA SUBJECT: IRAN/IAEA: ARGENTINA ON STRONG NATIONAL STATEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO BOG RESOLUTION REF: STATE 250503 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Polcouns delivered points in reftel to the Argentine MFA Office of International Security, Nuclear and Space Affairs (DIGAN) the afternoon of November 24 to DIGAN counselor Luciano Tanto Clement. Clement reiterated the GOA's longstanding concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program and its skepticism over Iran's recent commitment to the European Union and the EU-3. He opined that the EU agreement was directed more towards commercial rather than proliferation concerns. Clement said the GOA would make a strong intervention at the Board meeting and that he would forward our points to the Argentine delegation in Vienna. ¶2. (C) On the possibility of reporting Iran to the UNSC (of which Argentina becomes a member in 2005),should it fail to maintain its pledge to suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, Clement said he believed the IAEA was the best forum in which to deal with Iran. He said he did not see much opportunity in the Security Council where countries (he mentioned China specifically) could block progress. GUTIERREZ