AMBASSADOR RAISES UNSCR 1747, DESIGNATION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000859 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/CEN, ISN, T, TREASURY, EUR, EAP, NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KDEM KNNP PARM KN IR NU SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES UNSCR 1747, DESIGNATION OF IRAN,S DEFENSE INDUSTRIES WITH FOREIGN MINISTER SANTOS REF: A. SECSTATE 40909 ¶B. MANAGUA 0797 ¶C. SECSTATE 37801 Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D). ¶1. (C) On April 2, the Ambassador raised the USG's designation of Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO) under E.O. 13382 with Foreign Minister Santos. He also reiterated the importance of the international community's adhering to UNSCR 1747 and urged the Nicaraguan government (GON) to ensure it does not support the activities of any of the Iranian companies, entities, or individuals listed in the UNSCR 1747's annex. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador voiced concern that President Ortega's recent public statements could be interpreted as support for Iran's defiance of the United Nations. He clarified that the UN resolutions regarding Iran do not reflect a conflict between the United States and Iran, nor opposition to Iran's developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Rather, the world rejects Iran's efforts to develop nuclear weapons and refusal to agree to inspections. ¶3. (C) Foreign Minister Santos assured the Ambassador he will raise the matter with President Ortega and other GON officials following the Easter break. (Comment: President Ortega is likely subject to considerable pressure from his Venezuelan counterpart and ally to openly defy the UNSC resolutions on Iran. While the GON will probably avoid going to this extreme, we also do not expect it to fully implement the terms of the resolutions. More likely, the GON will attempt to avoid dealing with the matter.) TRIVELLI