Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CANBERRA1717
2007-12-04 05:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:  

AUSTRALIA RESPONSE TO NIE ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

Tags:  MNUC PARM KNNP IR AS 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 040507Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8668
INFO AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE 
USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA IMMEDIATE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 
AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001717 

SIPDIS


SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S, P, ISN AND EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2017
TAGS: MNUC PARM KNNP IR AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA RESPONSE TO NIE ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

REF: A. STATE 162558


B. STATE 162412



Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune for reasons 1.4
(b),(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001717

SIPDIS


SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S, P, ISN AND EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2017
TAGS: MNUC PARM KNNP IR AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA RESPONSE TO NIE ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

REF: A. STATE 162558


B. STATE 162412



Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune for reasons 1.4
(b),(d).


1. (C) DCM delivered Ref A unclassified non-paper and points
to David J. Ritchie, Deputy Secretary, Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (DFAT),on December 4. Ritchie was joined
by Olivia Borthwick, Director, Middle East Section. (Other
Mission personnel conveyed the classified version separately
to Peter Varghese, Director-General of the Office of National
Assessments.)


2. (C) Ritchie responded that the NIE report would change
Australian policy. Australia would still strongly support
getting Iran to comply with the existing UN Security Council
resolutions and to cooperate with IAEA requests in a
transparent and verifiable manner. He said he hoped the UNSC
would successfully pass a third resolution, barring obstacles
from Russia and China. Ritchie said Kevin Rudd, Australia's
new prime minister, was strong on both nonproliferation and
on Iran -- Rudd had threatened to bring Iranian President
Ahmadinejad before an international tribunal on charges of
inciting genocide for his statements about wiping Israel off
the map -- so the United States could expect that Australian
policy would stay at the tough end on Iran.


3. (C) Ritchie observed that there would be significant
policy implications if Iran had made a strategic decision to
abandon its efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon, and
questioned the DCM closely on the NIE findings. He noted
ruefully that acquiring good intelligence on Iran was
difficult, expressing doubt that Iran would completely
abandon the significant effort it had made in its enrichment
program.


4. (C) Ritchie undertook to forward the demarche to Prime
Minister Rudd's attention through the Department of Prime
Minister and Cabinet. Post will report by septel further
discussions Under Secretary Burns had with Foreign Minister
Smith and Defence Minister Fitzgibbon.

MCCALLUM