IAEA/IRAN: RUSSIAN MFA VIEWS ON DG REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 005477 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR ISN/RA R. NEPHEW AND IO/T H. VONBEHREN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2017 TAGS: KNNP MNUC IAEA PARM RS IR SUBJECT: IAEA/IRAN: RUSSIAN MFA VIEWS ON DG REPORT REF: STATE 157039 Classified By: EST Counselor Colin Cleary. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) On November 21, Embassy conveyed U.S. views (reftel) on the IAEA Director General's November 15 Report on Iran to Mikhail Kondratenkov, MFA Security and Disarmament Department nuclear non-proliferation section chief. Kondratenkov agreed that Iran has often been reactive rather than proactive in providing information to the IAEA. Nonetheless, he noted that Iran had made progress in clarifying questions regarding centrifuges. On balance he termed the report "more plus than minus." ¶2. (C) Russia's lead representative at the November 22-23 IAEA Board of Governors' meeting will be the GOR's Senior Representative to the IAEA, Gregoriy Berdennikov. Kondratenkov said that Berdennikov's position at the meeting would be consistent with Russia's previous approach: that there are some positive developments regarding Iran's cooperation, that Iran must work more closely and actively with the IAEA, and that Iran should implement the Additional Protocol. Kondratenkov underlined that the GOR will urge Iran to enact the Additional Protocol, "even though it is not required by international law." ¶3. (C) Kondratenkov took note of our request for Russia's support for the adoption of a new Chapter VII sanctions resolution by the UNSC. He said he would convey that, as well as the rest of our views, to his superiors in advance of the Board meeting. BURNS