DEMARCHE ON IRAN FOR OCTOBER 15-16 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 001266 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017 TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL IR XF SW SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON IRAN FOR OCTOBER 15-16 GAERC REF: STATE 141316 Classified By: DCM Robert Silverman, reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (c) On October 12, DCM made reftel demarche urging EU autonomous measures on Iran to MFA Political Director Bjorn Lyrvall, who said he would immediately pass our message to Foreign Minister Bildt. Lyrvall said there had been tough discussions at the level of the COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU 27) the night of October ¶11. The draft conclusions "seem to include" the possibility of future sanctions and other measures we are urging. Lyrvall expects no final acceptance and no final rejection of autonomous EU measures by the ministers. The implementation of such measures would be "largely a matter of timing." ¶2. (c) Lyrvall did not expect the GAERC to give full endorsement for the proposals put forward by French FM Kouchner. The results of the Solana/Larijani discussions would be included in the measures to be taken, as would the IAEA workplan for Iran. Lyrvall expects the conclusions on Iran at the GAERC to be a step in the direction of the possibility of autonomous sanctions. WOOD