Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LONDON272
2008-01-29 18:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy London
Cable title:  

IRAN: UK SAYS EU DESIRE FOR THIRD UNSCR MEANS NO

Tags:  PREL KPRP PGOV PHUM IR UK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291844Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7185
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 0062
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0292
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0571
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0232
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1105
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 000272 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2018
TAGS: PREL KPRP PGOV PHUM IR UK
SUBJECT: IRAN: UK SAYS EU DESIRE FOR THIRD UNSCR MEANS NO
AUTONOMOUS MEASURES BEFORE MARCH

REF: A. SECSTATE 07679


B. EMBASSY-NEA/IR TELCON 1/28

LONDON 00000272 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 000272

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2018
TAGS: PREL KPRP PGOV PHUM IR UK
SUBJECT: IRAN: UK SAYS EU DESIRE FOR THIRD UNSCR MEANS NO
AUTONOMOUS MEASURES BEFORE MARCH

REF: A. SECSTATE 07679


B. EMBASSY-NEA/IR TELCON 1/28

LONDON 00000272 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)


1. (C) Summary: The UK expects no new EU steps on
autonomous measures against Iran before a March 10-11 GAERC
ministerial, due to the desire of most EU governments to have
the legal and political cover of an approved third UN
Security Council Resolution in place before any further EU
action, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(FCO). FCO is confident the EU will designate Bank Melli at
the March 10-11 GAERC, but predicts the EU will, for
political reasons, not want to approve any second designation
making, in FCO view, a March designation of Bank Saderat
unlikely. The UK expects that during the February GAERC the
EU will extend existing travel bans and asset freezes to
those entities considered "uncontroversial" by the UK and
other EU governments (Embassy has requested more specifics).
On the UNSC, FCO believes it will take until "mid to late
February" to persuade non-permanent UNSC members to support a
third resolution. End summary.

UK Comments on Some EU Governments
--------------


2. (C) Will Gelling, Iran Multilateral Team Leader at FCO,
agreed on January 28 with all Iran points ref (a) but told
London Iran Watcher (Poloff) the January 28-29 GAERC session
is not dealing with financial or other "autonomous measures"
against Iran. Gelling explained that the reluctance of Spain
and Italy to act without a third UNSCR has in effect delayed
GAERC action on Iran sanctions until the next Iran session at
ministerial level: March 10-11, according to Gelling.
Gelling added the Germans have a strong, but not
unsurmountable, preference to wait for UN authority before
going ahead in the EU. In addition to Spain and Italy,
Gelling described Greece, Austria and Cyprus as heading what
he called "the usual doubters" on Iran sanctions, and in need

of repeated persuasion and engagement. Gelling said that,
given a third UNSCR on Iran, both Madrid and Rome and other
EU governments are in UK's judgment likely to support, within
limits, E3 proposals for EU sanctions. Gelling said his
office will spend the next four weeks traveling to EU
capitals to advocate for autonomous measures.

Less Optimistic on Saderat
--------------


3. (C) Gelling said HMG was attempting to organize support
within the EU for designation of Bank Melli, while France
has agreed to round up support for a Bank Saderat
designation. Gelling said Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,
Holland, Italy, and Spain have told FCO bilaterally they will
support EU designation of Melli, making Melli in the UK's
view an "odds-on" favorite to win EU designation. Gelling
noted however, that these governments had at the same time
been much less definite about supporting a designation of
Saderat as well. Poloff asked whether these governments see
any significant difference in the merits or evidence
supporting designation of the two banks: Gelling said the
merits are less important for these governments than "purely
political" factors -- the reluctance to move too fast, too
far.

EU Action Depends On Third Resolution
--------------


4. (C) Gelling said any delay in a third UN resolution past
the March GAERC dates would not derail, but might delay, EU
autonomous measures. If the draft third resolution were to
be vetoed in New York, Gelling said most EU members, despite
continued French and UK support, would want to quickly
distance themselves from further steps on Iran. In these
circumstances, FCO is hopeful, but not convinced, that
Germany would support further autonomous measures, including
a Melli designation, and would have a reasonable chance of
bringing the rest of the EU along; an outright failure of the
third UNSCR would in effect make Germany the keystone of next
steps, if any, within the EU.


UK View of UNSCR Dynamics

LONDON 00000272 002.2 OF 002


--------------


5. (C) Gelling said it will take a number of weeks to
prepare the ground with UNSC member governments to support
the draft third resolution agreed in Berlin January 22, and
highlighted Libya, South Africa, Vietnam and Indonesia as
needing special attention, which he said the UK is planning
to provide. Gelling said the Vietnamese have been in UK view
very opaque on their position, while South Africa will
require "point-by-point" explanation and persuasion, due to
what FCO sees as South Africa's fundamental reluctance to act
against Iran. Gelling said the Libyans were being
characteristically prickly on Iran, while Indonesia will need
to feel it has been fully consulted before it will support a
third resolution.



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