NETHERLANDS/IRAN: DUTCH WANT MORE INFORMATION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001924 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016 TAGS: PARM EU KNNP PGOV PREL UN IR NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAN: DUTCH WANT MORE INFORMATION ON IRANIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 143323 Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J. Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: The Dutch are frustrated at the lack of information sharing on Iran within the EU, and do not believe a discussion of sanctions is appropriate at Gymnich absent more details of the Iranian response to the P5 1 proposals. Without having seen the response directly, the Dutch understand that it is "complicated, ambiguous" and "not what we wanted." End summary. ¶2. (C/NF) Poloff delivered reftel demarche August 31 to Pim Dumore, Director of the Political Affairs Department at the Dutch MFA. Dumore said the Dutch have no intention of pushing a discussion of sanctions at the Gymnich without more information. He understood the Iranian response was inadequate but said that the question of sanctions was too serious to broach without a full picture. ¶3. (C/NF) Dumore said the GONL would push at Gymnich, to ensure that member states involved in the negotiations keep other member states (i.e., the Dutch) better informed. "We want more information," said Dumore. He added that, ideally, the GONL could discretely review the Iranian response - which he understood would violate Iran's demands that the document be kept confidential. ¶4. (C/NF) Poloff asked whether an IAEA report confirming Iranian non-compliance would be enough for the GONL. Dumore said it would not. Sanctions, he said, are a very serious step. "It's just the EU and the U.S." pushing Iran, he said, and EU member countries need to be fully informed before proceeding. While he did not expect sanctions to be discussed substantively at the September 1 Gymnich, Dumore thought the issue could be on the agenda for the upcoming GAERC -- provided members had enough information. ¶5. (C/NF) Comment: This is not the first time the Dutch have complained about the perceived lack of information sharing on Iran between the EU-3 (or, in this case, P5 1) and other EU members. While the Dutch share our concerns about Iran's nuclear program, they are also worried about the consequences of proceeding to sanctions or other steps without exhausting other channels. Some of Dumore's comments, therefore, probably reflect a Dutch desire to play for time in the hope that an international consensus will develop. End Comment. ARNALL