SPAIN: DEMARCHE ON IRAN'S MILITARY PROCUREMENT

S E C R E T MADRID 002800 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2014 TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV MASS MOPS IR SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: DEMARCHE ON IRAN'S MILITARY PROCUREMENT ATTEMPTS REF: SECSTATE 149124 Classified By: KATHLEEN M. FITZPATRICK, POLITICAL COUNSELOR. REASONS 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (S) Summary: The Spanish MFA told us it was unaware that Spanish firms have been involved in Iran's attempt to procure military and electronic equipment, according to officials in the Office of International Affairs of Disarmament. Such attempts would put Spanish business interests at odds with the MFA's non-proliferation concerns with Iran. The MFA would welcome an intelligence briefing in September after the Spanish summer holiday, when its top officials will be prepared to focus on the issue. End Summary. ¶2. (S) We met the Deputy Director-designate for International Affairs of Disarmament, Marcos Rodriguez, to inform the MFA of Iran's attempts to procure military items in Spain (reftel). Rodriguez told us that an Iranian delegation of government officials and private business leaders visited Foreign Minister Moratinos in May, but they did not discuss potential military sells between Iran and Spain. If Izar and other Spanish firms are negotiating with Iran to sell military items, it could cause a serious conflict between Spanish business interests and the MFA's support for non-proliferation concerns with Iran, Rodriguez said. ¶3. (S) Rodriguez explained that officials in the Office of International Disarmament Affairs would welcome a U.S. intelligence briefing on the attempts of Iran and other state sponsors of terror to procure conventional military and dual-use goods in Europe. However, because International Disarmament Affair's Deputy Director General Laclaustra was recently appointed and Spain's vacation season is approaching, it would be better to schedule an intelligence briefing at the end of September, Rodriguez said, when officials would be able to focus on the issue. Rodriguez said he would transmit the talking points to the director general and report his comments to us. ¶4. (C) We will report any significant Spanish reaction. MANZANARES