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