NORWAY'S FOLLOW THROUGH ON UN 1737

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000152 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017 TAGS: ENRG EPET ETTC IR PREL NO SUBJECT: NORWAY'S FOLLOW THROUGH ON UN 1737 REF: A. A. STATE 14071 ¶B. B. STATE 16917 ¶C. C. OSLO 98 ¶D. D. OSLO 132 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 b and d 1.(U) Summary: On February 9, Norway enacted legislation providing for sanctions on Iran in regard to its nuclear program. The provisions of the sanctions follow the measures in UN security council resolution 1737. The issue of Norwegian investment in the Iranian petroleum sector and granting of export credits to companies doing business with Iran was not addressed in this legislation. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The legislation passed includes a ban on the import and export of sensitive equipment and technology that can be used in Iran's nuclear program, and for building a delivery system for nuclear weapons. It also includes a ban on giving services, including arbitration, financing and transport in relation to such sensitive items. The legislation also includes a freeze of assets that belong to people or organizations linked to Iran's nuclear program. In addition, the legislation prohibits making assets available for such people and organizations. ¶3. (C) As reported in reftel D embassy has requested that Norway stop its provision of short-term export credit for firms dealing with Iran and also to stop investment in Iran by Norway's state-owned oil companies. Neither issue was addressed in the legislation on Iran. We have not yet received any other substantive answer to our request that Norway go beyond the letter of Resolution 1737 to take measures to keep international pressure on Iran. Political Director Kai Eide told us Norway agreed it was not time to reduce pressure, but had nothing more on additional GON measures. Ambassador is seeing key Norwegian petroleum officials to stress the USG position. We will report via septel. If past behavior is any indication, it is unlikely that the GON will take any further steps to stop Norwegian companies from doing business in Iran. WHITNEY