EU SUMMIT TO ISSUE TOUGH MESSAGE TO IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 004121

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: EUN IR KDEM PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: EU SUMMIT TO ISSUE TOUGH MESSAGE TO IRAN

REF: SECSTATE 193403

Classified By: Polmincouns Laurence Wohlers for reasons 1.5 (d) and (e)
.


1. EU Foreign Ministers will prepare a tough declaration on
Iran and the Middle East for European leaders to approve at
their December 15 summit in Brussels, according to Jesper
Hostrup, Principal Administrator and Iran Coordinator in the
European Commission,s Directorate General for External
Relations. The EU has not decided yet whether it will issue
a separate statement in reaction to Iranian elections to be
held the same day. Poloff discussed the upcoming next steps
on Iran with Hostrup on December 13 and provided response
below to reftel points.


2. European Council: At their December 11 meeting in
Brussels, EU-25 FMs decided to delay extensive discussion of
Iran and the Middle East until their meeting on December 14
in preparation for the EU Council on December 15. According
to Hostrup, the draft Council declaration which must first
pass muster with EU FMs before approval by EU leaders is
&highly critical8 in tone. According to a friendly EU
member state contact, some member states support a separate
declaration on Iran, but Spain, Italy, and Greece claimed
this would be too provocative. The draft text deplores
Iran,s failure to take steps recommended by the IAEA,
continues to support a negotiated solution. The UK will push
for an opening paragraph setting the situation in the context
of Iran,s negative influence on a range of issues. The
debate on the text will center on how tough and broad the
message will be. Separately, Hestrup noted that, not
surprisingly, Iranian President Ahmedinejad,s personal
embrace of a Holocaust denial conference in Tehran has
provoked outrage among senior European officials, including
Commissioner Frattini who passionately rebuked Ahmedinejad in
comments to the press.


3. Iranian Elections: Hostrup said Iran-watchers here
expected no surprises, but that the EU would assess the
actual results and conduct of the elections before reacting
publicly. Although the election outcome would not change the
facts on the ground, Hostrup opined that their conduct
provided an opportunity to &take the temperature8 of the
Iranian public toward the regime. As for the Assembly of
Experts elections, should Rafsanjani come out on top, it
would come as a huge surprise. Our Commission contact
promised to stay in close touch on the issue.
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