Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS3996
2007-09-24 15:47:00
SECRET
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
IRAN,S BANK MARKAZI OPENS NEW ACCOUNTS IN EUROPE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #3996 2671547 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 241547Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0392 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 6683 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 6710 RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK 0134 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2166 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 8610 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2573 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 2090 RUEATRS/DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WASHDC
S E C R E T PARIS 003996
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR T, ISN, NEA AND EUR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: KNNP MNUC EFIN IR FR
SUBJECT: IRAN,S BANK MARKAZI OPENS NEW ACCOUNTS IN EUROPE
REF: A. SECSTATE 132904
B. PARIS 03799
Classified By: ECON MINCOUNS SETH WINNICK FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D
S E C R E T PARIS 003996
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR T, ISN, NEA AND EUR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: KNNP MNUC EFIN IR FR
SUBJECT: IRAN,S BANK MARKAZI OPENS NEW ACCOUNTS IN EUROPE
REF: A. SECSTATE 132904
B. PARIS 03799
Classified By: ECON MINCOUNS SETH WINNICK FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D
1. (S) On September 21, Econoff delivered reftel nonpaper on
Iranian Central Bank activity to the MFA Non-Proliferation
Office and the Finance Ministry,s International Financial
Affairs Office. Both stressed France,s forward-leaning
approach to applying economic pressure on Iran and said they
would take into account concerns mentioned in the nonpaper.
They indicated that the GOF has similar concerns about the
application of UNSCR 1737.
2. (S) IRAN AND FATF: The MFA official said that the GOF
favors adding Iran to the Financial Action Task Force,s
(FATF) list of "non-cooperating countries" at the FATF
October 2007 session, given Iran,s complete failure to
respond to a series of three FATF letters requesting
clarification on Iranian financial practices. He pointed
out, however, that some G-7 partners, including Italy and
Germany, are reticent about "blacklisting" Iran. On
September 17, the Italian FATF delegation informally proposed
that Italy approach the Government of Iran regarding the
consequences of not responding to the FATF letters. The GOF
considers the Italian approach "counterproductive," likely to
produce a pro-forma Iranian "request for more time to
respond" rather than any concrete Iranian action. He added
that the German Finance Ministry also had doubts about
whether blacklisting Iran in the FATF is appropriate. The
MFA suggested that the U.S. talk to the Italians on this
issue.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
Stapleton
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR T, ISN, NEA AND EUR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: KNNP MNUC EFIN IR FR
SUBJECT: IRAN,S BANK MARKAZI OPENS NEW ACCOUNTS IN EUROPE
REF: A. SECSTATE 132904
B. PARIS 03799
Classified By: ECON MINCOUNS SETH WINNICK FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D
1. (S) On September 21, Econoff delivered reftel nonpaper on
Iranian Central Bank activity to the MFA Non-Proliferation
Office and the Finance Ministry,s International Financial
Affairs Office. Both stressed France,s forward-leaning
approach to applying economic pressure on Iran and said they
would take into account concerns mentioned in the nonpaper.
They indicated that the GOF has similar concerns about the
application of UNSCR 1737.
2. (S) IRAN AND FATF: The MFA official said that the GOF
favors adding Iran to the Financial Action Task Force,s
(FATF) list of "non-cooperating countries" at the FATF
October 2007 session, given Iran,s complete failure to
respond to a series of three FATF letters requesting
clarification on Iranian financial practices. He pointed
out, however, that some G-7 partners, including Italy and
Germany, are reticent about "blacklisting" Iran. On
September 17, the Italian FATF delegation informally proposed
that Italy approach the Government of Iran regarding the
consequences of not responding to the FATF letters. The GOF
considers the Italian approach "counterproductive," likely to
produce a pro-forma Iranian "request for more time to
respond" rather than any concrete Iranian action. He added
that the German Finance Ministry also had doubts about
whether blacklisting Iran in the FATF is appropriate. The
MFA suggested that the U.S. talk to the Italians on this
issue.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
Stapleton