SWEDEN: MFA POLDIR ON REPORTING IRAN TO THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000060 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2016 TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL IR EU AORC SUBJECT: SWEDEN: MFA POLDIR ON REPORTING IRAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS REF: A. STATE 5477 ¶B. STATE 6236 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Stephen V. Noble, reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (c) Charge d'Affaires a.i. Noble delivered ref A demarche January 13 to MFA Political Director Olof Skoog, seeking Sweden's support as an IAEA Board member for a proposed emergency meeting of the Board, with the purpose of reporting Iran to the UNSC. Charge underscored that Iran had been found in contravention of it nuclear safeguards obligations in September 2005, and since then had repeatedly ignored international efforts to find an acceptable solution and had made numerous belligerent statements leading up to its recent action of removing the seals at the Natanz enrichment facility. ¶2. (c) Poldir Skoog said Sweden had focused its attention on Iran and shared our concerns. Sweden took a very firm approach to Iran. The next natural step was to react to what Iran was doing; Sweden supported convening an extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board. Sweden also favored a gradual approach, and believed it was important, as much as possible, to build an alliance for actions concerning Iran. The P-5 countries were of course essential. In addition, India, Brazil, and South Africa needed to be included. Sweden believed it was in the interest of those countries, as well in our own interests to ensure that Iran did not go down the road of developing nuclear weapons. The potential nuclear power states may see this as a double standard, and there is some wariness, but Sweden strongly supports bringing them into them on board in regard to containing Iran's ambitions. Skoog said a strong international response, and not only from the P-5 and nuclear powers, is the only thing that will deter Iran. ¶3. (c) In regard to the role of the UNSC, Skoog urged gradual steps. The UNSC should endorse the efforts of the IAEA to press Iran to comply with previous IAEA Board of Governors' resolutions. Skoog thought this would be a good first step in pressing Iran. The Charge said he understood the question of how the IAEA might report Iranian compliance with a UNSC mandate was still at play. ¶4. (c) Skoog asked Charge if the U.S. was considering proposing "sharper measures." The Charge referred to the description of the gradual approach the U.S. had in mind in the non-paper. Charge noted that Iran has applied pressure to some of the key countries in response to their joining IAEA consensus resolutions in the past. We should be aware of this practice by Iran and would welcome information from the GoS if they learn of similar tactics being applied now. The U.S. shared the views of Sweden on the importance of working with India, South Africa, and Brazil. Skoog noted the success of our efforts to press Iran will depend on our success in mobilizing the P-5, key non-aligned and others to act in concert. The Charge said we agree and look forward to GoS support to this end. Skoog agreed that each time we apply pressure on Iran to comply with its outstanding obligations, we should leave open a clearly understood path on how it should comply. STOCKHOLM 00000060 002 OF 002 Comment -------------- ¶5. (c) Sweden shares our underlying concerns and endorses an extraordinary session of the IAEA Board. The Swedish approach is very much oriented toward consensus-building in recognition of the fact that we need the P-5 and key influential non-aligned states to prevail in the IAEA Board of Governors and the UNSC. As a nuclear-capable country that made the decision prior to 1960 not to pursue nuclear arms, Sweden is committed to preventing the proliferation of nuclear arms, and sees Iran as a test case. On prior occasions, they have told us they will follow the lead of the EU-3 on Iran. NOBLE