(S) GERMANY FINDS NO IRANIAN PROCUREMENT ATTEMPTS

S E C R E T BERLIN 000617

SIPDIS, ISN, NEA, EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2033
TAGS: PARM MTCRE PREL IR GM
SUBJECT: (S) GERMANY FINDS NO IRANIAN PROCUREMENT ATTEMPTS
FOR DUAL-USE MERCEDES BENZ TRUCKS

REF: STATE 05439

Classified By: Global Affairs Unit Chief Don L. Brown for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) MFA Export Control Division Desk Officer Wiebke
Wacker provided Global Affairs Officer on May 5 with a
German-language nonpaper response to reftel regarding the
Iranian procurement of dual-use Mercedes Benz trucks. Wacker
said the German export authorities had not uncovered any
indications that the Iranian company Shahid Bagheri
Industrial Group (SBIG) attempted to procure Mercedes Benz
truck models 4053 and 3340 via the Iranian Khodro Company
(IKCO).


2. (S) Begin informal Embassy translation of German-language
nonpaper:

With reference to the Non-Paper from January 18, 2008,
regarding the procurement of Mercedes Benz trucks models 4053
and 3340 from the Iranian company Shahid Bagheri Industrial
Group (SBIG) via the Iranian Khodro Company (IKCO),we take
this opportunity to bring the following information to the
attention of U.S. authorities.

-- We appreciate the information in connection with the
procurement efforts of the Iranian company SBIG.

-- The German export control authorities have no
corresponding inquiries and/or requests for export licenses
from Mercedes Benz for the export of trucks to the Iranian
company IKCO.

-- Furthermore, during the time period from October 2007 to
February 2008 there were no exports of these Mercedes Benz
Trucks contracted to Iran.

-- A company response from Mercedes Benz was not available.

We look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation in
the field of export controls.

End text of informal Embassy translation.
TIMKEN JR