IRAN: ITALY APPRECIATES US THINKING ON UNSC OPTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003989

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2014
TAGS: IR PREL IT IAEA
SUBJECT: IRAN: ITALY APPRECIATES US THINKING ON UNSC OPTIONS

REF: STATE 219260

Classified By: POL M/C Tom Countryman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Poloff discussed reftel non-paper with Giovanni
Iannuzzi, head of the MFA's nonproliferation office, on
October 15. Iannuzzi responded very positively to the
non-paper, which he had shared with MFA DG for Multilateral
Political Affairs Giampiero Massolo the evening before
Massolo's departure to Washington to attend G-8 meetings on
Iran. These meetings, focusing on what to do at the next
IAEA Board of Governors (BOG) meeting, Iannuzzi said, were
only "one-half of the apple." He said that Italy agrees it
is very useful to start thinking about the other half, i.e.,
what happens if and when the BOG decides to refer the matter
to the UNSC. He thanked the US for taking on this role and
elaborating possible options at the UN. He expressed his
personal concern, however, that once the UNSC is engaged in
the issue that will mean the end of the IAEA process,
although the IAEA would still have a role to play.


2. (C) Responding to Poloff's inquiry regarding the status of
the EU-3 initiative, Iannuzzi said that at the October 11-12
GAERC, EU Foreign Ministers agreed that the EU-3 would
continue their efforts along with EU High
Representative Solana. For the moment, the initiative would
not be expanded to all 25 EU member states.

SEMBLER


NNNN
2004ROME03989 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL