IRAN/IAEA: CANADA CALLS IN IRANIAN CHARGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002748

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2015
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL PHUM CA IR IAEA
SUBJECT: IRAN/IAEA: CANADA CALLS IN IRANIAN CHARGE
D'AFFAIRES


Classified By: Pol MC Brian Flora. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) In a September 12 meeting with Charge on another
matter, Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) for International
Security Policy Jim Wright took the opportunity to underline
Canada's frustration with Iran and its snubbing of the IAEA.
Wright reported that he had just called in the Iranian Charge
to deliver a strongly-worded demarche expressing Canada's
disappointment, and informing him that if Iran did not change
its position at the September 19 Board of Governors meeting,
Canada would support an effort to refer Iran's noncompliance
to the UNSC. Wright further noted that Foreign Minister
Pettigrew would seek a meeting with his Iranian counterpart
at the UN General Assembly to reinforce Canada's
nonproliferation message and to raise human rights issues.


2. (C) Wright said that he had emphasized Canada's strong
support of EU-3 efforts to reach a long-term solution of
concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program and that it was
"very disappointed" that Iran had rejected the
recommendations out of hand. These recommendations would
have resulted in satisfactory measures that would meet Iran's
desire to expand international cooperation in the civilian
nuclear field, Wright told his interlocutor. He urged Iran
to reconsider.


3. (C) Canada was also concerned by Iran's unilateral
decision to restart uranium conversion activities, Wright
continued, in defiance of IAEA Board resolutions. The GoC
remained troubled by the nature of Iran's nuclear program,
particularly its stated requirement for uranium conversion
and enrichment facilities, given that Russia had made a
long-term fuel supply commitment for the Bushehr reactor
currently being constructed. There was simply no credible
reason, Wright continued, to justify why Iran has resumed
conversion activities at this time, especially given its
non-proliferation obligations under the NPT. Iran's record
of hiding key aspects of its nuclear program from
international oversight raised serious doubts that the
program was exclusively for peaceful purposes, Wright
concluded, and the IAEA determination that Iran was not
cooperating fully or transparently with its officials
alarming.


4. (C) The Iranian Charge tried to argue that IAEA member
governments are imposing a "double standard" on his country.
In response, Wright said, he was read the litany of Canada's
full compliance with all the bureaucratic hoops and
regulations, contrasting the seriousness of Canada's
commitment to nonproliferation obligations with Iran's
decision to flout them. Wright charged Iran with being hung
up on its NPT rights while ignoring its obligations. Iran's
rhetoric, Wright concluded, was not working and its nuclear
program made "no economic sense" whatsoever. Canada, he
warned, would urge the Board of Governors on September 19 to
refer the issue to the UN Security Council.

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DICKSON