Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LONDON694
2008-03-10 13:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy London
Cable title:
UK MEASURES ON IRAN: HMG STILL LAYING GROUNDWORK
how-toVZCZCXRO0324 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLO #0694 0701302 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101302Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7724 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000694
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2018
TAGS: EFIN KTFN PREL MNUC PTER EU IR UK
SUBJECT: UK MEASURES ON IRAN: HMG STILL LAYING GROUNDWORK
IN EU-GAERC; MORE PRESSURE ON UK BANKS UNLIKELY FOR NOW
REF: 07 LONDON 4512
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000694
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2018
TAGS: EFIN KTFN PREL MNUC PTER EU IR UK
SUBJECT: UK MEASURES ON IRAN: HMG STILL LAYING GROUNDWORK
IN EU-GAERC; MORE PRESSURE ON UK BANKS UNLIKELY FOR NOW
REF: 07 LONDON 4512
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)
1. (C) On immediate EU sanctions steps in follow-up to
passage of UNSCR 1803, FCO working level contacts on March 7
advised London Iran Watcher (Poloff) that "nothing
substantive will happen on the EU track" at the GAERC session
Monday March 10: "there will be no Iran conclusions."
According to FCO, HMG is currently engaging Italy on its
reservations over listings of Banks Melli and Saderat as well
pressing as the EU Presidency on next steps and timelines in
preparation for the April 28 GAERC. FCO contact said HMG
will begin to formulate its game plan based on discussions on
the margins of the March 10 GAERC, and in key bilaterals
between March 10 and 14. FCO promised POLOFF further readout
and an informal estimate of prospects by March 14.
2. (C) Signalling HMG's seriousness in ensuring swift and
effective EU measures on Iran, FCO Iran Multilateral Team
Leader Will Gelling advised that his office had added a
mid-level position (to be filled by Neil Kernohan) dedicated
solely to EU sanctions development and implementation.
Embassy comment: given the leanness of FCO staffing in
general, including within the Iran Coordination Group, this
addition of an experienced officer focussed solely on the EU
sanctions issue indicates more vigorous and sustained HMG
efforts on EU designations and autonomous measures on Iran.
End comment.
3. (C/NF) FCO working level contacts on Iran recently raised
with Poloff, without offering details, that HMG has already
pressed its financial sector over Iran, that measures have
already been taken on Iranian banking in the UK, and that
HMG's Iran sanctions efforts in the immediate future will be
focused on what it can achieve in the EU.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
TUTTLE
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2018
TAGS: EFIN KTFN PREL MNUC PTER EU IR UK
SUBJECT: UK MEASURES ON IRAN: HMG STILL LAYING GROUNDWORK
IN EU-GAERC; MORE PRESSURE ON UK BANKS UNLIKELY FOR NOW
REF: 07 LONDON 4512
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)
1. (C) On immediate EU sanctions steps in follow-up to
passage of UNSCR 1803, FCO working level contacts on March 7
advised London Iran Watcher (Poloff) that "nothing
substantive will happen on the EU track" at the GAERC session
Monday March 10: "there will be no Iran conclusions."
According to FCO, HMG is currently engaging Italy on its
reservations over listings of Banks Melli and Saderat as well
pressing as the EU Presidency on next steps and timelines in
preparation for the April 28 GAERC. FCO contact said HMG
will begin to formulate its game plan based on discussions on
the margins of the March 10 GAERC, and in key bilaterals
between March 10 and 14. FCO promised POLOFF further readout
and an informal estimate of prospects by March 14.
2. (C) Signalling HMG's seriousness in ensuring swift and
effective EU measures on Iran, FCO Iran Multilateral Team
Leader Will Gelling advised that his office had added a
mid-level position (to be filled by Neil Kernohan) dedicated
solely to EU sanctions development and implementation.
Embassy comment: given the leanness of FCO staffing in
general, including within the Iran Coordination Group, this
addition of an experienced officer focussed solely on the EU
sanctions issue indicates more vigorous and sustained HMG
efforts on EU designations and autonomous measures on Iran.
End comment.
3. (C/NF) FCO working level contacts on Iran recently raised
with Poloff, without offering details, that HMG has already
pressed its financial sector over Iran, that measures have
already been taken on Iranian banking in the UK, and that
HMG's Iran sanctions efforts in the immediate future will be
focused on what it can achieve in the EU.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
TUTTLE