ITALY TALKING TOUGH ON IRAN -- WITH THE EMPHASIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003399 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2014 TAGS: IR PREL IT IAEA SUBJECT: ITALY TALKING TOUGH ON IRAN -- WITH THE EMPHASIS ON TALKING REF: A. STATE 188960 ¶B. ROME 3381 ¶C. ROME 3285 ¶D. BRUSSELS 3729 Classified By: POL M/C Tom Countryman for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Pol M/C discussed Ref A non-paper with Paolo Dionisi, Diplomatic Advisor to PM Berlusconi, on September 3. Dionisi, commenting that the US always delivers a tough message on Iran, said that Italy also will send a tough message to Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Rowani when he visits Rome this fall. According to Dionisi, the Iranians are disappointed with the EU3 and now want to deal with the EU as a whole -- and want Italy to help arrange this. The Italian response has been that what is important is not the process but the substance. ¶2. (C) Poloff also delivered Ref A talking points to MFA Office Director for Disarmament Giovanni Iannuzzi, who shared them with Iran Desk Officer Federica Ferrari Bravo and DG for Multilateral Political Affairs Giampiero Massolo, with whom Charge had discussed the issue the day before (Ref B). Iannuzzi had no further remarks following the Massolo meeting and his own meeting with PolOff the week before (Ref C) other than to highlight the reference to "both a legal basis and a political imperative" for referring the matter to the UNSC as the most significant language in the text. ¶4. (C) Comment. Italy, though agreeing with the US position in principle, will have to be convinced that referring the matter to the UN at this time would actually lead to the result we all want, the cessation of the nuclear program. Rome would be unlikely to stick its neck out ahead of France, Germany, and the UK. End comment. Visit Rome's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m SKODON NNNN 2004ROME03399 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL