IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT ON IRAN AND NEXT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 007155 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/RA NEPHEW AND IO/T VON BEHREN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2027 TAGS: PREL KNNP MNUC IAEA PARM AORC IR CH SUBJECT: IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT ON IRAN AND NEXT STEPS REF: SECSTATE 157039 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Drawing upon reftel points, PolMinCouns in a November 19 meeting with MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Deputy Director General Wu Haitao urged China to support adoption of a new UNSC sanctions resolution in response to Iran's failure to comply with its international obligations. PolMinCouns said the IAEA's recent report describing Iran's failure of DG ElBaradei's "litmus test" of cooperation warrants immediate action by the UN Security Council (UNSC). Such action is necessary to maintain pressure on Iran to accept a diplomatic solution to the current situation. ¶2. (C) Wu responded that China also received the IAEA report, which he described as "professional," and Chinese experts studied it. Wu said the Chinese noticed the report mentioned some progress made by Iran on "outstanding issues" as well as "a certain amount of cooperation" on the part of Iran. At the same time, they noticed the report said that Iran had not suspended its uranium-enrichment activities as required by the UN Security Council Resolutions. They also noticed the IAEA DG's urging of Iran to implement the Additional Protocol and the Resolutions. Thus, Wu noted, "we" need to urge Iran to cooperate further to resolve the outstanding issues and implement the Security Council Resolutions. "That is China's position," Wu strssed. ¶3. (C) Regarding next steps, Wu said China hoped a planned Iran-EU Representative Solana meeting would show progress. In the meantime, China looked forward to cooperating with the United States to solve the Iranian nuclear issue diplomatically. Wu thanked PolMinCouns for providing the U.S. position on ElBaradei's report, promised to report it to his superiors immediately, and stated that he hoped to "keep in touch" to continue working towards a diplomatic solution. PICCUTA