DEMARCHE TO SPAIN ON DESIGNATIONS OF IRANIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002039

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR S, ISN, T, EUR, EAP AND NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2012
TAGS: PREL KNNP IR PARM EFIN SP
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO SPAIN ON DESIGNATIONS OF IRANIAN
ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUALS

REF: REF: STATE 148605

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Hugo Llorens, Reason: 1.5 (b) a
nd (d)


1. (C) On 10/26/07, DCM spoke with Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Secretary of State Bernadino Leon (acting Foreign
Minister while Miguel Angel Moratinos is traveling) about the
new Iran sanctions. Leon said that that Spain supported U.S.
leadership in dealing with Iran's possible acquisition of
nuclear weapons. He added that the Spanish government as a
whole supported the goal of preventing Iranian acquisition of
nuclear weapons. He was quite aware of Secretary Rice's and
Secretary Paulson's 10/25/07 press conference from press

SIPDIS
reports. Leon emphasized that Spain was in full compliance
with UNSCRs 1737 and 1747. He added that the Spanish
government had successfully discouraged several promising
commercial deals with Iran that arguably were not covered by
the resolutions so that Spain was implementing the spirit, as
well as the letter, of the resolutions. Leon said that he
would study the non-paper and fact sheet carefully. He noted
that in the coming days and weeks, Spain would be conferring
with EU partners on additional sanctions against Iran, and
that the EU consultations would include the U.S. and other UN
members. Leon said that he would be pleased to talk to the
Ambassador and DCM about this matter in the coming weeks.
DCM also raised this matter with Alvaro San Martin, Chief of
Staff to Ministry of Finance Secretary of State David
Vergara. San Martin appreciated the critical importance of
the U.S. action, and that it would be raised to the
ministerial level. On 10/25/07, Second Vice President and
Finance Minister Pedro Solbes was in parliament defending the
budget. Reftel non-paper and fact sheet were delivered to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance
on 10/25/07. We also provided the documents to Ministry of
Industry, Tourism and Trade Secretary of State Pedro Mejia on
10/26/07. Mejia has the lead within the GOS for coordinating
Iran financial sanctions.


2. (C) In the coming weeks, Ambassador/DCM will seek
additional information on GOS views on this matter with
Foreign Minister Moratinos, Second Vice President and Finance
Minister Pedro Solbes, and Secretary of State Pedro Mejia.
Mejia's role in this will be critical because, as a practical
matter, he has the lead in terms of developing the details of
Spain's position on Iran financial sanctions, as well as the
application of the sanctions.


AGUIRRE