NORWEGIANS DISCUSS IAEA, IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000953 SIPDIS SIPDIS ISN/RA (RNEPHEW) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017 TAGS: KNNP IR IAEA MNUC PARM EUN NO SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS DISCUSS IAEA, IRAN REF: STATE 129914 Classified By: DCM Kevin M. Johnson, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On September 19, we delivered reftel points to MFA Middle East Advisor Knut Langeland. He emphasized that Norway, the UNSC, and the international community must work with a clear sense of unity if they are to exert maximum political pressure on Iran. Concerning Norway's failure to explicitly endorse a third sanctions resolution, he stated that although Norway did not participate in the IAEA Board of Governors meeting, Norway will continue its tradition of supporting UNSC resolutions and translating them into Norwegian law. He noted that the global community must respect and adhere to UNSC authority if progress is to be made in Iran. ¶2. (C) He confirmed that Norway will support and implement economic sanctions if Iran fails to meet the new agreement's requirements. He reiterated that Norway welcomes the new IAEA agreement, while stressing that a new resolution is just one of several steps. Norway will support a protocol if approved by the UNSC and believes it could lead to confidence-building measures. Norway insists that Iran show its readiness to resolve outstanding violations and suspend suspicious and objectionable activities. WHITNEY