Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL650
2008-04-01 07:25:00
SECRET
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL RESPONSE: IRAN'S USE OF BANK MELLAT FOR
VZCZCXRO9778 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHUL #0650 0920725 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 010725Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9168 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SEOUL 000650
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN - NEW & CHALMERS, T, NEA, IO/PSC, AND EAP/K
TREASURY FOR OFAC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: IR KNNP PARM PREL KS
SUBJECT: SEOUL RESPONSE: IRAN'S USE OF BANK MELLAT FOR
PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES
REF: STATE 30247
Classified By: EMIN ANDREW J. QUINN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B&D).
S E C R E T SEOUL 000650
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN - NEW & CHALMERS, T, NEA, IO/PSC, AND EAP/K
TREASURY FOR OFAC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: IR KNNP PARM PREL KS
SUBJECT: SEOUL RESPONSE: IRAN'S USE OF BANK MELLAT FOR
PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES
REF: STATE 30247
Classified By: EMIN ANDREW J. QUINN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B&D).
1. (S) On April 1, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(MOFAT) Disarmament and Non-proliferation Division Director
Lee Jang-kuen thanked Econoff for the detailed, comprehensive
demarche/non-paper outlining Bank Mellat's proliferation
activities in Seoul (reftel). He reaffirmed the ROKG's
commitment to complete its ongoing investigation into Mellat
by the end of April.
2, (S) Having reviewed the non-paper before the meeting,
Lee observed that it did not identify any questionable Mellat
activities after November 2007. He said this appears to
reflect both the significant decline in Bank Mellat's
activities in Seoul and the extreme caution that the local
banking community attaches to doing business with Mellat,
following U/S Levey's mid-November visit To Seoul. Lee added
several ROKG agencies are now engaged in the Mellat
investigation, and all had taken note of the USG's serious
concerns about Mellat.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN - NEW & CHALMERS, T, NEA, IO/PSC, AND EAP/K
TREASURY FOR OFAC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: IR KNNP PARM PREL KS
SUBJECT: SEOUL RESPONSE: IRAN'S USE OF BANK MELLAT FOR
PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES
REF: STATE 30247
Classified By: EMIN ANDREW J. QUINN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B&D).
1. (S) On April 1, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(MOFAT) Disarmament and Non-proliferation Division Director
Lee Jang-kuen thanked Econoff for the detailed, comprehensive
demarche/non-paper outlining Bank Mellat's proliferation
activities in Seoul (reftel). He reaffirmed the ROKG's
commitment to complete its ongoing investigation into Mellat
by the end of April.
2, (S) Having reviewed the non-paper before the meeting,
Lee observed that it did not identify any questionable Mellat
activities after November 2007. He said this appears to
reflect both the significant decline in Bank Mellat's
activities in Seoul and the extreme caution that the local
banking community attaches to doing business with Mellat,
following U/S Levey's mid-November visit To Seoul. Lee added
several ROKG agencies are now engaged in the Mellat
investigation, and all had taken note of the USG's serious
concerns about Mellat.
VERSHBOW