ISRAELI NSA EILAND ON IRANIAN NUCLEAR THREAT,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001643

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MARR KNNP IZ IR IS GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: ISRAELI NSA EILAND ON IRANIAN NUCLEAR THREAT,
IRAQ, AND SYRIA

Classified By: DCM Gene A. Cretz for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (S/NOFORN) Summary: Israeli National Security Adviser
Giora Eiland told Representative Christopher Shays,
Representative Jim Marshall, and the DCM that Iran's main
goals are to acquire nuclear weapons, support Hizballah and
other proxies, and to increase Iranian influence in Iraq.
Eiland said that the upcoming IAEA report on Iran may provide
a good opportunity to seek sanctions against Iran in the UN
Security Council. Without some deterrent, Iran could reach
full nuclear capability in three to four years, predicted
Eiland. He said that the next six months are a critical
period in which Iran will likely overcome all technical
difficulties in the nuclear process, thus allowing storage of
nuclear material at various sites across the country. Eiland
said he expects Iran to continue to seek influence in Iraq
and to use this influence to bargain with the U.S. on the
nuclear issue. Eiland said that a stable Iraqi government
must be established and that any U.S. withdrawal must be
gradual and at the request of the new Iraqi government. End
summary.

--------------
Eiland Urges UNSC Sanctions Against Iran
--------------


2. (C) Eiland claimed that Iran,s objective of acquiring a
nuclear weapons capability has become an issue of national
pride and not just the desire of President Ahmadinejad.
Obtaining a nuclear program would assist Iran in exporting
the Islamic revolution and allow Tehran to threaten the
entire region. For example, they could threaten Israel if it
responded to attacks from Hizballah in the north.


3. (C) In response to Rep. Shays, question of how to
succeed with Iran, Eiland said that if IAEA Director General
Mohamed El Baradei,s upcoming report cites Iran,s failure
to comply with international requirements, it would provide a
good opportunity to bring the issue before the UN Security
Council. He went on to say that the French had indicated to
him that they would not consider unilateral sanctions against
Iran, making a UNSC resolution necessary. Eiland explained
that Iran is sensitive to sanctions; he dismissed speculation
that Iran would respond by pulling oil from the market.


4. (S/NOFORN) In response to questions from both Rep. Shays
and Rep. Marshall on whether a viable military option exists.
Eiland responded, "We don,t know all the sites and we
don,t know what we don,t know." He went on to say that air
strikes that lasted a few weeks could substantially disrupt
any Iranian nuclear program.


5. (C) Rep. Marshall asked Eiland for his assessment on the
time it would take for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.
Eiland predicted three to four years to reach full military
capability, which he defined as having more than one warhead,
an effective delivery system, and a secure command and
control system. He said that the next six months are
critical because during that time the Iranians will likely
overcome the remaining technical difficulties, enabling them
to generate nuclear fuel and store it at various sites
throughout the country.

--------------
Iranian Influence in Iraq
--------------


6. (C) In response to Rep. Shays' request for views of Iraq,
Eiland replied that Iraq is below the Palestinians, Iran, and
Lebanon on Israel's priority list because there is little it
can do to influence events there. He assessed that in spite
of severe political differences, the Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish
populations all want a united Iraq. Eiland cautioned that
one of Iran,s main goals is to increase its influence in
Iraq by increasing the influence of the Iraqi Shia, which
Iran will then use to bargain with the U.S. on the nuclear
issue. When asked by Rep. Shays what kind of positive steps
Iran could make with regard to Iraq, Eiland said they could
secure the Iran/Iraq border, prohibit assistance from
Hizballah to terror groups in Iraq, or stop support to
insurgents in Iraq.


7. (C) Rep. Shays said that while success in Iraq could be
defined as a competent military and government that is able
to move forward and grow economically, some experts say that
as soon as the U.S. leaves Iraq, extremists will claim
victory. Eiland replied that everything will depend on how a
withdrawal is carried out, but agreed that there is a danger
that insurgents will claim success. He said that in order to
avoid this perception, there must be a stable government in
Iraq and a withdrawal must be gradual and at the request of
the Iraqi government.

--------------
Syria: Asad Seeks Rewards
--------------


8. (C) In response to questions on Syria from both Rep.
Shays and Rep. Marshall, Eiland said that President Bashar
al-Asad is frustrated because he believes he has not been
rewarded for attempts to secure his borders and for
successfully withdrawing from Lebanon. Eiland suggested that
Asad hopes Syria will avoid sanctions, will move off the list
of state sponsors of terrorism, and will gain support for a
return of the Golan Heights.


9. (U) CODEL Shays did not have the opportunity to clear
this cable before departing post.

********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv

You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES