M/V IRAN TEYFORUI: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHARED

S E C R E T BEIJING 001354 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP AND ISN E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2033 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC CH IR SUBJECT: M/V IRAN TEYFORUI: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHARED ON SHIPMENT OF PROLIFERATION CONCERN (S) REF: A. STATE 37260 ¶B. BEIJING 1309 ¶C. STATE 35977 ¶D. BEIJING 333 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b/d). ¶1. (S) PolOff provided additional information on the shipment of sodium sulfide to Iran on board the M/V Iran Teyfouri (ref A) to MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Missile Division Deputy Director Wang Daxue on April 10. He urged China to investigate and prevent the transfer to Iran. Wang said the additional information will be helpful to China and noted that an investigation is already underway. China will inform the United States of the results of the investigation, he said. ¶2. (S) PolOff also shared with Wang information on the January voyage of the M/V Iran Teyfouri. Wang described the information as "detailed," but wondered how the United States knew the 21 containers were unloaded in Iran. Did the Bandar Abbas port website mention the 21 containers? What public source described the delivery of the containers to the consignees? PolOff explained that, although he did not have answers to Wang's questions, U.S. experts are prepared to visit Beijing to provide a detailed briefing to Chinese officials. He urged China to give serious consideration to this proposal. Wang said he would pass the request to senior MFA officials. ¶3. (S) Saying he was speaking personally, Wang said he wanted to make two points about the January voyage of the M/V Iran Teyfouri: 1) the items shipped were not controlled under Chinese law, and 2) Chinese customs officials examining the export paperwork saw "nothing abnormal" about the shipment. Entities designated under UN Security Council resolutions are permitted to purchase non-controlled items. As for the vessel's destination, perhaps it originally intended to sail to Singapore, but then decided to alter course after departing Tianjin, he said. PolOff stressed that Chinese officials may have been purposely misled. Our information should raise serious concerns. Chinese investigators should now be questioning the veracity of other information they may have seen. He urged China to re-investigate the January shipment and to scrutinize closely the pending shipment. RANDT NNNN End Cable Text