COM DEMARCHE ON IRAN TO EU MEMBER STATES IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 143223 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV IR XF EUN SUBJECT: COM DEMARCHE ON IRAN TO EU MEMBER STATES IN ADVANCE OF THE OCTOBER 15-16 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC) REF: STATE 141316 Classified By: R. NICHOLAS BURNS, U/S FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND URGENT ACTION REQUEST: As noted in reftel, EU Foreign Ministers will hold their next General Affairs and External Relations Council(GAERC) meeting in Luxembourg on October 15-16. A key point on the agenda October 15 will be the discussion of autonomous EU sanctions on Iran proposed by French FM Kouchner in a letter to his EU counterparts. Although reftel included Iran points for delivery to the EU 27 in advance of the GAERC meeting, Department requests Chiefs of Mission in all EU Member States and USEU follow up at the highest possible level, including at the Foreign Minister level, as soon as possible with the points below. Other embassies should not/not deliver these points. Posts are requested to include the SIPDIS caption on their response cables. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. 2 (C) BACKGROUND: France and the U.K. will launch a debate at the GAERC on October 15 for EU sanctions on Iran outside of the UNSC. We urge all EU states to agree expeditiously to this proposal. Secretary Rice told all her EU interlocutors at UNGA that we need our diplomacy on Iran to be much more vigorous and to have teeth. The Secretary believes the EU needs to do more to help us make diplomacy succeed by toughening sanctions and raising the costs to Iran of its failure to agree to negotiate. This is an urgent USG priority. ¶3. (C) BACKGROUND CONTINUED: The Foreign Ministers of China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, the U.S., (P5 1) and EU High Rep Solana agreed on September 28 to reaffirm the dual track strategy on Iran: to support negotiations, but to be prepared to vote a third UNSC sanctions resolution should Iran fail to abide by its UNSC obligations by November. The U.S. has consistently supported a dual track approach on Iran. We have also made clear our view that a third UNSC sanctions resolution is the appropriate next step in light of Iran's failure to comply with the Security Council's demands, including to fully suspend its proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities. This view is consistent with the Council's intent, as expressed in UNSCR 1747, to adopt further appropriate sanctions measures should Iran fail to comply. �A;¶4. (U) BACKGROUND CONTINUED: Parallel to our efforts in the Security Council, the U.S. welcomes France's strong leadership aimed at securing EU autonomous sanctions against Iran outside the UNSC framework. Additional bilateral sanctions are necessary to increase pressure on Iran and make clear that it will face serious political and economic costs if it continues to defy the UNSC's demands. French FM Kouchner has emphasized while the EU favors further UNSC action, it cannot wait for a third Iran UNSCR to explore the possibility of additional EU sanctions. Among other measures, Kouchner has proposed the EU add Iranian entities, particularly banks and individuals, to its existing designations and visa bans. ¶5. (U) BACKGROUND CONTINUED: We have joined our P5 1 partners in proposing a framework for direct discussions with Iran on the nuclear issue -- as outlined in the June 2006 offer - and the Secretary has made clear she will represent the U.S. in any talks that come about as a result of Iran's adhering to the UNSC requirement to suspend its proliferation-sensitive activities. But with the failure of Iran to accept that offer, we have no other alternative but to continue increasing pressure via sanctions. The responsibility lies with Iran to meet its legal obligations and thereby enable negotiations. ¶6. (C/NF) BACKGROUND CONTINUED: Based on information from the EU Council Secretariat, as of October 10, USEU reported the Portuguese EU Presidency had thus far refused to prepare draft conclusions on Iran for the EU 27 Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on October 15. This had led a frustrated UK and France to prepare their own draft conclusions for consideration by EU Political Directors on the eve of the Ministers meeting. However, on October 11, sources in the German Permrep told USEU the EU member states had reached tentative agreement overnight on new draft conclusions on Iran. The text, to be adopted by the EU STATE 00143223 002 OF 002 SUBJECT: COM DEMARCHE ON IRAN TO EU MEMBER STATES IN ADVANCE OF THE OCTOBER 15-16 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAER Foreign Ministers on October 15, would call for the EU to, "consider what additional new measures might be taken, and invite the relevant Council bodies to advise on them." Upon formal adoption of this conclusion, the Portuguese Presidency would be expected to convene the two EU expert-level working groups on the Middle East and Non-Proliferation to develop specific proposals for further sanctions under the EU Common Policy on Restrictive Measures Against Iran. The EU-3 had reached consensus on the draft Iran conclusions before they were presented to the rest of the member states. Even so, the broader debate was described as "tough" and the Portuguese have, to the consternation of the EU-3, left open the possibility for further debate October 11. ¶7. (SBU) Action addressees are requested to deliver the following points to the appropriate senior level MFA official(s) as soon as possible (in advance of the October 15-16 GAERC). In cases where post judges COM delivery of the demarche is not appropriate, whether because the host country government already shares all of our positions or for other reasons, please deliver demarche at the highest appropriate level. BEGIN NON-PAPER TEXT --We welcome continued U.S. - EU cooperation on Iran. It is vital to the success of international diplomatic efforts that the EU and the U.S. continue to speak with one voice on Iran. --The Foreign Ministers of China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, the U.S., and High Rep Solana (P5 2) agreed on September 28 to reaffirm the dual track strategy on Iran: to support negotiations, but be prepared to vote a third UNSC sanctions resolution by November should Iran fail to abide by its UNSC and IAEA obligations. Both EU Solana and IAEA DG ElBaradei must report positive progress in November in order for a vote on a third sanctions resolution to be avoided. --Parallel to efforts in the Council, the U.S. also supports EU sanctions against Iran outside of the UNSC framework. Additional bilateral sanctions are necessary to increase pressure on Iran and make clear that it will face serious political and economic costs if it continues to defy the UNSC's demands. --We urge the EU to consider autonomous measures, including sanctions, to contribute to increased international pressure on Iran, and move forward with the unanimous adoption of such measures between now and November. --Possibilities for autonomous measures include: adding more proliferation-linked entities to the EU's existing list of entities designated for asset freezes and visa bans, and adopting other financial and economic measures. In the latter category, we urge the EU to consider banning export credits for Iran, as well as prohibiting new investment in Iran's energy sector. --While we would welcome a positive decision on such sanctions at the October 15-16 GAERC, we urge, at the very least, that the GAERC issue a strong statement: (1) calling for a third UNSCR if Iran fails to suspend enrichment and take tangible steps towards implementation of the IAEA work plan, and (2) endorsing the concept of autonomous sanctions against Iran outside of the UN framework. RICE