CZECHS BRIEFED ON IRAN NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001274 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2017 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IR EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS BRIEFED ON IRAN NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE REF: STATE 162558 Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d ¶1. (C) Pol-Econ Counselor delivered reftel points on the NIE on Iran's nuclear program to Czech MFA Political Director Martin Povejsil on December 4. Povejsil appreciated receiving the NIE conclusions and the U.S. position. Povejsil thought that the NIE's conclusions regarding the nuclear program were consistent with recent information on the program. He suggested that it is important to stress the finding that the Iranians still possess the capability to return to an active nuclear program. ¶2. (C) Focusing on the potential impact of the NIE on the domestic debate over the missile defense radar in the Czech Republic, Povejsil said it was important that public statements emphasize that the NIE did not focus on Iran's missile program. Povejsil believes that the Iranian regime's continued activity on the missile program (i.e., the recent Ashura medium range ballistic missile test) will play a larger role in the domestic debate than this NIE. Graber