SHIELD S01-08: GOI REQUIRES FURTHER INFORMATION ON

S E C R E T NEW DELHI 000878

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN/CB ANDREW SOUZA, ISN AND SCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC IR IN
SUBJECT: SHIELD S01-08: GOI REQUIRES FURTHER INFORMATION ON
LINKAGES TO IRAN

REF: SECSTATE 28273

Classified By: A/PolCouns Atul Keshap for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (U) This is an action request for ISN and SCA. Please see
para 3.


2. (S) PolOffs delivered reftel points March 19 to Ministry
of External Affairs (MEA) Disarmament and International
Security (DISA) Division Directors Amandeep Singh Gill and
Jayant Khobragade. Gill responded that the Government of
India's export control laws do not prevent the export of
sodium cyanide to a Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) state.
PolOff pointed out that, if India were to harmonize with the
Australia Group (AG),the GOI would be required to prevent
such exports. Gill asked that the USG provide any specific
details that links the shipment to Iran,s military.Without
more information, the case "would be very difficult to
process," he said, adding that the issue was multilateral as
it involved the CWC. Gill opined that as a CWC signatory,
there was "nothing to suggest Iran has a chemical weapons
program." Khobragade asked if the USG would be willing to
provide details to the GOI on Iran's production and use of
chemical weapons.


3. (S) Post requests that the Department respond positively
to the DISA Division,s request for a briefing regarding
Iran,s chemical weapons program as part of a broader
briefing on Iran,s WMD programs. Such a presentation would
help promote the nonproliferation partnership, as well as
inform newly arrived MEA officers in other divisions,
including Additional Security for International Organizations
Vivek Katju, who replaced K.C. Singh in December 2007.
MULFORD