Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VIENNA2596
2007-10-11 06:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
IRAN SANCTIONS: AUSTRIA REJECTS EU ACTION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #2596 2840628 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 110628Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8759 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0754 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0830 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1757 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0407 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0224
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 002596
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2022
TAGS: KNNP IR EU FR AU
SUBJECT: IRAN SANCTIONS: AUSTRIA REJECTS EU ACTION
REF: VIENNA 2578
Classified By: Econ/Pol Couns Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 002596
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2022
TAGS: KNNP IR EU FR AU
SUBJECT: IRAN SANCTIONS: AUSTRIA REJECTS EU ACTION
REF: VIENNA 2578
Classified By: Econ/Pol Couns Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (U) Econ/Pol Counselor and Poloff called on Austrian MFA
Deputy PolDir and Near East Division Chief Ralph Scheide
October 10 to discuss Iranian sanctions policy. Emboffs
raised three concerns: Austrian objection of consideration of
expanded sanctions or other diplomatic action until after the
IAEA-Iran workplan process is completed; Austria's specific
objection to expanded EU sanctions; and the problems the
Austrian oil/gas firm OMV's plans for Iranian investment pose
for P-5 plus 2 negotiations with Iran.
2. (C) Scheide set out as the basis for Austria's Iran policy
its conviction that only complete international unity, as
expressed through UNSC action, will be meaningful in
compelling Iran to denuclearize. Any steps taken outside the
UN framework would simply toughen Iran's position, he said.
Scheide described the IAEA-Iran process as the
internationally agreed next step in the diplomatic process
with Iran. To take further measures before the expected
mid-November report by the IAEA on Iran's cooperation would
cause Iran, in Scheide's view, to walk away from the IAEA
process and reject further diplomatic dialogue. France's
proposal for EU "unilateral" action was also tactically
wrong, Scheide argued, because, since there was no common
view in the EU, the ensuing intramural argument would only
bolster Iran. While not rejecting Econ/Pol Counselor's
argument that OMV's possible Iranian gas project was
unhelpful, Scheide maintained that as a private commercial
enterprise, the government had no influence over its business
decisions.
Kilner
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2022
TAGS: KNNP IR EU FR AU
SUBJECT: IRAN SANCTIONS: AUSTRIA REJECTS EU ACTION
REF: VIENNA 2578
Classified By: Econ/Pol Couns Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (U) Econ/Pol Counselor and Poloff called on Austrian MFA
Deputy PolDir and Near East Division Chief Ralph Scheide
October 10 to discuss Iranian sanctions policy. Emboffs
raised three concerns: Austrian objection of consideration of
expanded sanctions or other diplomatic action until after the
IAEA-Iran workplan process is completed; Austria's specific
objection to expanded EU sanctions; and the problems the
Austrian oil/gas firm OMV's plans for Iranian investment pose
for P-5 plus 2 negotiations with Iran.
2. (C) Scheide set out as the basis for Austria's Iran policy
its conviction that only complete international unity, as
expressed through UNSC action, will be meaningful in
compelling Iran to denuclearize. Any steps taken outside the
UN framework would simply toughen Iran's position, he said.
Scheide described the IAEA-Iran process as the
internationally agreed next step in the diplomatic process
with Iran. To take further measures before the expected
mid-November report by the IAEA on Iran's cooperation would
cause Iran, in Scheide's view, to walk away from the IAEA
process and reject further diplomatic dialogue. France's
proposal for EU "unilateral" action was also tactically
wrong, Scheide argued, because, since there was no common
view in the EU, the ensuing intramural argument would only
bolster Iran. While not rejecting Econ/Pol Counselor's
argument that OMV's possible Iranian gas project was
unhelpful, Scheide maintained that as a private commercial
enterprise, the government had no influence over its business
decisions.
Kilner