REQUEST FOR INTELLIGENCE BRIEFINGS ON IRAN'S

S E C R E T ANKARA 001406 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS FOR EUR/SE AND ISN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER MCAP MNUC KNNP ETTC IR TU SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INTELLIGENCE BRIEFINGS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR AND BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAMS REF: A. ANKARA 1347 ¶B. ANKARA 1349 Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d). ¶1. (S) We need to keep Turkish military and government authorities focused on the medium to long-term threat posed by an Iran with nuclear weapons and long range delivery systems. As part of this effort, we must continue to stress with the Turks the geopolitical and physical dimensions of the threat, the concomitant proliferation risk, as well as the risk of other states in the region deciding to acquire nuclear weapons. ¶2. (S/NF) To help achieve this, post requests intelligence community briefers come to Ankara to provide up-dated briefings on Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and on current trends in Iranian activities in Iraq and the broader region. The intended audience would be senior officers at the Turkish General Staff (TGS) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The last broad-based briefing was provided in January 2006. ¶3. (S) Post will assist in identifying the most appropriate dates for such briefings. Point of contact is Political-Military Affairs officer Chris Rich, tel: 90-312-457-7177, SIPR:RichCE@state.sgov.gov. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON