(S) NIAG 7053: GERMAN RESPONSE ON IRANIAN FIRM

S E C R E T BERLIN 001452 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN, T, EUR, AND NEA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2032 TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL MNUC ETTC IR TC CH GM SUBJECT: (S) NIAG 7053: GERMAN RESPONSE ON IRANIAN FIRM POSSIBLY ORDERING GAS CENTRIFUGE-RELATED ITEMS FROM GERMANY REF: A. BERLIN 763 ¶B. STATE 47981 Classified By: Acting Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs Douglas B . Neumann, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) German MFA Export Control Division Desk Officer Andreas Kauke met Global Affairs officer July 19 and passed the following German-language non-paper. Kauke said the German Government investigated the information contained in ref B concerning an attempt by the Iranian firm Tajhiz Novin Tous Company to procure rotary pumps from the German firm Pfeiffer. He reported that Pfeiffer and PVA TePla AG, another German producer of vacuum pumps located in the same town as Pfeiffer, informed German authorities that they had not been approached by Novin Tous Company nor by China's Sino-NSH Oil Purification Company concerning the sale of rotary pumps. Both German firms assured the German authorities that they would apply for an export license should either Novin Tous Company or Sino-NSH solicit rotary pumps from them. Kauke said the German authorities notified the two German firms to apply for a license whenever they sought to export dual-use items to Iranian entities. ¶2. (S) Begin unofficial embassy translation of German-language text: Concerning the Non-paper from April 11, 2007, given to us April 13, 2007, about the Iranian attempt to procure rotary pumps from the firm Pfeiffer, allow us to bring the following information to the attention of U.S. authorities: -- We thank you for the information related to the suspected attempt to procure rotary pumps by the Iranian firm Tajhiz Novin Tous from the German firm Pfeiffer. These pumps, which are suitable for a nuclear program, are supposed to be procured through China. -- The German export control authorities do not have any information regarding this case, and the relevant inquiries were negative. An initial contact with the firms Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH and PVA TePla AG, both of which are located in Asslar, showed that neither firm had been approached by the named Iranian or Chinese firms. Both said they would inform the Federal Office of Economics and Export Controls (BAFA) if they received this kind of inquiry in the future. -- Provided that the U.S. authorities have additional information available which could help clarify the significance of this case, we would be very grateful to receive it. We look forward to our continuing outstanding cooperation in the area of export controls. End text. TIMKEN JR