(S) SHIPMENT OF PROLIFERATION CONCERN- UAE RESPONSE

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000728 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR T, ISN, AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2032 TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC IR CH AE SUBJECT: (S) SHIPMENT OF PROLIFERATION CONCERN- UAE RESPONSE REF: SECSTATE 58623 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b, c, and d ). ¶1. (S) Summary: On May 2, Econchief and DHS/ICE Dubai delivered reftel demarche to the MFA and to Dubai Customs. The MFA conveyed instructions to Dubai authorities to investigate. The ship arrived in Dubai the afternoon of May 2, but we do not yet have an estimated time of departure. The MFA has asked whether we have conveyed information about the shipment to the Chinese authorities. End Summary. ¶2. (S) On May 2, Econchief delivered reftel demarche to MFA Director for International Organizations Yacoub Al-Hosani (a member of the UAE Counterproliferation Task Force) and encouraged the UAE to take all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent cargo of possible proliferation concern from reaching end users associated with Iran's ballistic missile program. Al-Hosani immediately conveyed instructions to Dubai Customs, the Ministry of Interior, and Dubai's State Security Office to investigate and to work with the U.S. The same day DHS/ICE Dubai provided Dubai Customs with the same information. ¶3. (S) Al-Hosani reiterated the UAEG's standing request for earlier notification, noting that the request was being made on the day the ship was due to arrive in Dubai. He explained that coordinating the efforts of a number of federal and emirate level agencies was a time consuming, bureaucratic process. Econchief noted that we try to pass information as quickly as possible, but that sometimes we only get the information as a shipment of concern was en route, a point Al-Hosani accepted. ¶4. (S) Al-Hosani asked whether we had informed Chinese authorities about the shipment or whether the information had come from China to the U.S. He explained that -- if the UAE found anything -- it would need to inform the Chinese Embassy. He didn't want the Chinese to be surprised, especially if the UAE needed to return the goods. In addition, he said, it was always useful to remind the Chinese that they had obligations under the UNSCRs as well. For its part, the UAE wanted to work in partnership with both the Chinese and the U.S. to enforce UNSCRs. ¶5. (S) Al-Hosani also asked whether we knew if the goods were being unloaded in the UAE or if the M/V Iran Tehran was simply refueling. He expressed concern that if the vessel was just refueling it would complicate the UAE's efforts to stop and inspect the shipment. ¶6. (S) Dubai DHS/ICE provided ref information to contacts at Dubai Customs on the morning of May 2. At 1630, Dubai Customs reported that the ship had arrived at Port Rashid at 1300 and was in berth 33. We do not yet have information on estimated time of departure. Customs also informed us that the suspect containers were not scheduled to be off loaded in Dubai. We will continue to report on developments. SISON