Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OSLO480
2007-05-04 14:18:00
SECRET
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
(S) SEPAH ASSETS UPDATE
VZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHNY #0480 1241418 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 041418Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5643 INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0096 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 0116 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0599 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 1254 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1060 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0363 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 2311 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0128 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN PRIORITY 0216 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0446 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1442 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 1774 RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA PRIORITY 0092 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0440 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0969 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0526 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0790 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 3110 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 4382 RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN PRIORITY 0019
S E C R E T OSLO 000480
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ISN/CPI (JCHALMERS),NEA/IR (SMISKO),PLEASE PASS TO
TREASURY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017
TAGS: EFIN, IR, PARM, KNNP, NO
SUBJECT: (S) SEPAH ASSETS UPDATE
REF: A. STATE 60238
B. OSLO 320
Classified By: Acting DCM Kristen F. Bauer, Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
S E C R E T OSLO 000480
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ISN/CPI (JCHALMERS),NEA/IR (SMISKO),PLEASE PASS TO
TREASURY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017
TAGS: EFIN, IR, PARM, KNNP, NO
SUBJECT: (S) SEPAH ASSETS UPDATE
REF: A. STATE 60238
B. OSLO 320
Classified By: Acting DCM Kristen F. Bauer, Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (S) On May 4 we delivered reftel A points to MFA Legal
Department Deputy Director Martin Sorby, who reviewed the
GON's steps to freeze Sepah's assets, as outlined in reftel
B. On March 30, the GON had amended its regulations and
drafted the necessary legal instruments to freeze Sepah
assets in Norway. The Norwegian Security and Exchange
Commission (KreditTilsynet) was contacted, which communicated
the freeze to Norwegian banks and financial institutions.
2. (S) Sepah's bank account in the Norwegian bank Nordea,
which had a balance of approximately 28,300 USD, was
immediately frozen. Nordea simultaneously deleted all credit
lines with Sepah, and confirmed to the GON that there were no
outstanding Sepah letters of credit. To Sorby's knowledge,
there has been no evidence of an asset flight, and there is
no information indicating any additional Sepah accounts in
Norway.
3. (S) Sorby noted that the Norwegian Central Bank provided
the MFA with a copy of a letter from the Iranian Central Bank
president. The letter (which was not provided to us)
outlined a general Iranian appeal to European central bank
governors complaining of the Security Council's decision.
The GON was asked in the letter to work toward lifting the
asset freeze. The Norwegian Bank did not respond,
determining that the letter should be filed "for no further
action." Sorby will inform us of any additional
developments.
WHITNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ISN/CPI (JCHALMERS),NEA/IR (SMISKO),PLEASE PASS TO
TREASURY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017
TAGS: EFIN, IR, PARM, KNNP, NO
SUBJECT: (S) SEPAH ASSETS UPDATE
REF: A. STATE 60238
B. OSLO 320
Classified By: Acting DCM Kristen F. Bauer, Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (S) On May 4 we delivered reftel A points to MFA Legal
Department Deputy Director Martin Sorby, who reviewed the
GON's steps to freeze Sepah's assets, as outlined in reftel
B. On March 30, the GON had amended its regulations and
drafted the necessary legal instruments to freeze Sepah
assets in Norway. The Norwegian Security and Exchange
Commission (KreditTilsynet) was contacted, which communicated
the freeze to Norwegian banks and financial institutions.
2. (S) Sepah's bank account in the Norwegian bank Nordea,
which had a balance of approximately 28,300 USD, was
immediately frozen. Nordea simultaneously deleted all credit
lines with Sepah, and confirmed to the GON that there were no
outstanding Sepah letters of credit. To Sorby's knowledge,
there has been no evidence of an asset flight, and there is
no information indicating any additional Sepah accounts in
Norway.
3. (S) Sorby noted that the Norwegian Central Bank provided
the MFA with a copy of a letter from the Iranian Central Bank
president. The letter (which was not provided to us)
outlined a general Iranian appeal to European central bank
governors complaining of the Security Council's decision.
The GON was asked in the letter to work toward lifting the
asset freeze. The Norwegian Bank did not respond,
determining that the letter should be filed "for no further
action." Sorby will inform us of any additional
developments.
WHITNEY