LUXEMBOURG'S NEW MFA SECRETARY-GENERAL ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUXEMBOURG 000489

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: KNNP MNUC IR PARM PREL LU
SUBJECT: LUXEMBOURG'S NEW MFA SECRETARY-GENERAL ON IRAN
SANCTIONS

REF: A. STATE 162558

B. STATE 165967

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Steven H. Kraft, for reasons 1.
4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Ambassador received new MFA Secretary-General Paul
Duhr for a courtesy call on 12 December and delivered reftel
points on Iran and our recent NIE. Duhr commented that EU
Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, a noted physicist, had
briefed EU members on the latest intelligence on Iran, and
thus the content of our NIE did not come as "a major
surprise." Duhr indicated that Luxembourg agrees there can
be no legitimate, peaceful reason for Iran's continuing to
enrich uranium. Adding in Iran's continued non-compliance
with UNSC resolutions, Luxembourg agreed with the need to
continue to put pressure on President Ahmadinejad's regime.
Duhr stated that the Luxembourg MFA considered Ahmadinejad to
be a "madman."


2. (C) Ambassador Duhr said he believes there to exist a
general consensus in the EU to continue to focus on
sanctions. He believes a majority of EU countries would be
in favor of a third round of UNSC sanctions, particularly
sanctions that targeted the key individuals and institutions
that support the regime and its nuclear program.

WAGNER