IRAN: FM DOWNER TO EXPRESS AUSTRALIAN VIEWS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000509

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/ANP, NP/MNA, AND NP/RA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015
TAGS: PREL KNNP PARM AS IR IZ IAEA
SUBJECT: IRAN: FM DOWNER TO EXPRESS AUSTRALIAN VIEWS ON
IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND INTERFERENCE IN IRAQ DURING
IRANIAN MP'S VISIT TO CANBERRA

REF: A. STATE 41957

B. STATE 44486

Classified By: ACTING POLCOUNS TAMARA FITZGERALD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B AND
D).


1. (C) DFAT Arms Control Assistant Secretary Peter Shannon
told us March 9 that Iranian MP Boroujerdi, Chairman of the
Parliament's National Security Committee, would visit
Canberra on March 15. On March 11 we raised with Ben Burdon,
Policy Director of the Iraq Task Force (ITF),Ref A points
urging other countries to tell Iran not to interfere in
Iraq's domestic politics. Burdon said the ITF had already
written similar talking points for Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer's use during the meeting, and the points could be
distilled down to two words: "butt out." Shannon had already
told us that Downer was keen to tell the Iranian MP that Iran
must permanently cease all nuclear enrichment activities.
Boroujerdi was scheduled to meet only with Australian MPs
during his one-day visit to Canberra, including the Foreign
Minister.


2. (C) We presented Ref B points on March 14 to David Mason,
Arms Control Office Director, and Octavia Borthwick, Middle
East Section Director. They appreciated the information on
U.S. efforts to support the EU-3 process with Iran as helpful
background for Downer's meeting the following day. Borthwick
added that Downer would, as usual, raise human rights
concerns with his Iranian interlocutor as well.


3. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
STANTON