POTENTIAL UAV/CRUISE MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

S E C R E T PARIS 006124 SIPDIS FOR EC/ECNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2015 TAGS: FR IR ETTC PARM PREL SUBJECT: POTENTIAL UAV/CRUISE MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO IRAN (S) REF: SECSTATE 164496 Classified By: ESTH COUNSELOR ROBERT W. DRY FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) & (D) ¶1. (S) On September 8, ESTH Counselor provided French MTCR point-of-contact David Bertolotti in the disarmament and nonproliferation division of the MFA with points contained reftel. (Although reftel request is not described as falling with the MTCR itself, since it involves technology possibly associated with UAVs or cruise missiles, Berlotti was thought to be the best point of entry for passing this information to the GOF.) ¶2. (S) Bertolotti read the points and expressed surprise that French firm Helices Halter might be involved in a transfer of sensitive technology to Iran, noting the company was a world leader in the production of a certain propulsion component. He asked whether foreign ministries in Italy and the Netherlands were also being asked by the U.S. to investigate transactions related to their national companies and was told they were. In any event, he said he would immediately forward the points about Helices Halter to French security authorities for investigation. STAPLETON