IVANOV TELLS ISRAELIS THAT RUSSIAN FUEL DELIVERY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001682

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2015
TAGS: PREL KNNP PARM IR IS GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: IVANOV TELLS ISRAELIS THAT RUSSIAN FUEL DELIVERY
TO IRAN COULD BE AS EARLY AS END OF 2005

REF: 04 TEL AVIV 6554 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer; Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) According to Israeli officials, Russian National
Security Adviser Igor Ivanov and MINATOM staff told the GOI
on March 15 that Russian fuel could be delivered to Bushehr
"as early as the end of 2005," although the Russians noted
that a more likely date would be June 2006. Ariel "Eli"
Levite, the deputy director of the Israel Atomic Energy
Commission (IAEC),expressed concern to a visiting NSG
delegation that the Russians had previously said that June
2006 would be the earliest possible delivery date (reftel).


2. (C) Levite told the NSG delegation, which included a DOE
official, that the Russians had both "good news and bad news"
during a March 15 discussion on the Iranian nuclear program.
On the positive side, Levite said, the Russians insisted that
obtaining guarantees on fuel deliveries and return of spent
fuel are "major issues" for Moscow. He also described the
Russians as generally helpful on the Iranian issue.


3. (C) On the negative side, Levite claimed that the Russians
were reluctant to admit that Iran is a real problem. He
called Russian rhetoric during the visit a "step backwards,"
complaining that they used phrases such as "if they are found
to have a weapons program" when discussing Iranian issues.
Levite said that the Russians had made clear that they would
only consider supporting a move to take Iran to the UNSC if
there is first a clear suspension agreement that Iran
abrogates. He noted that the Russians also claimed that they
are "heavily dependent" on the Islamic world, including Iran,
for assistance in dealing with Chechnya. In addition, the
Russians told Levite that they do not believe they have "an
equally effective relationship" with the international
community on nonproliferation issues, noting that the EU-3 is
leading on Iran, the U.S. and UK in Libya, and China in North
Korea. Levite stressed to the NSG delegation that the
Russians have historically been proud of their
non-proliferation efforts, but now feel that they are not
being recognized as a leading participant in addressing
current issues.

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KURTZER