PANAMA DEMARCHE ON REPORTING IRAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (UNSC)

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000123 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2016 TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL IR EU AORC LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL SUBJECT: PANAMA DEMARCHE ON REPORTING IRAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (UNSC) REF: STATE 06236 Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On January 17, Ambassador Eaton delivered reftel demarche to Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis and discussed the GOP's position on a possible emergency IAEA Board meeting to report Iran to UNSC. Ambassador Eaton emphasized to Lewis that Iran has violated both IAEA resolutions and EU-3 agreements and is proceeding with uranium enrichment activities. Ambassador Eaton also told Lewis that the U.S. and other countries believe Iran's development of a uranium enrichment technology exists for purposes of developing nuclear weapons. Lewis told Ambassador Eaton that the Government of Panama also is concerned about Iran's actions and pledged Panama's support to the U.S. on this issue. ¶2. (C) Separately, on January 17, POL Counselor met with Vice Foreign Minister Ricardo Duran. Duran said that the Iranian Ambassador to Panama, who resides in Colombia, recently traveled to Panama to ask Duran for Panama's support at the IAEA for Iran's right to develop uranium enrichment technology for peaceful purposes. Duran said he stated that the Foreign Ministry would give the Iranian Ambassador's request every due consideration. When the Iranian Ambassador left, Duran said he telephoned the Panamanian Ambassador to the IAEA in Vienna and instructed him to "vote with the Americans on this issue." EATON