IRAN'S PROPOSED TECHNICAL COOPERATION WITH THE IAEA

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 002144 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2016 TAGS: MNUC KNNP MO IR SUBJECT: IRAN'S PROPOSED TECHNICAL COOPERATION WITH THE IAEA REF: STATE 188260 Classified by Political Counselor Craig Karp for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) In a November 17 meeting, poloff urged Morocco, which sits on the IAEA Board of Governors, to oppose any technical cooperation with Iran that involves the heavy-water research reactor at Arak, drawing on points conveyed reftel. ¶2. (SBU) Noting that the GOM is also concerned about Iran's nuclear program, and its implications for nascent nuclear programs elsewhere in the region, (particularly in Algeria) Azzedine Farhane, Division Chief of U.N. and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promised to convey the U.S. position to the Minister and to the Moroccan delegation in Vienna. ¶3. (C) Poloff underlined that the USG attaches the highest importance to this matter and recalled the comments of MFA Secretary-General Hilale during his November 16 meeting with SIPDIS the Ambassador (septel) in which he indicated that Morocco shares U.S. concerns about Iran's intentions and would view skeptically Iranian technical cooperation requests in Vienna. Farhane took the point and repeated that the GOM would give full consideration to this demarche. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley