DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL IRANIAN ENTITIES AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 114408

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC IR GM PREL PARM EFIN
SUBJECT: DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL IRANIAN ENTITIES AND
INDIVIDUALS UNDER E.O. 13382


1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see
paragraphs three, five, and six.

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SUMMARY
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2. (SBU) The United States designated the Export
Development Bank of Iran (EDBI) and three affiliated
entities under E.O. 13382 ("Blocking the Property of
Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and their
Supporters") on October 22, 2008. These designations
are consistent with obligations in UN Security Council
Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1737, 1747 and 1803, which require
Member States to freeze the assets of entities and
individuals designated by the UN Security Council as
being involved in Iran's nuclear or missile programs,
and freeze the assets of entities acting on their behalf
or at their direction. These designations are also
consistent with obligations in Paragraph 10 of UNSCR
1803, which calls upon all Member States to exercise
vigilance over the activities of financial institutions
in their territories with all banks domiciled in Iran,
in particular with Bank Melli and Bank Saderat, and
their branches and subsidiaries abroad, in order to
avoid such activities contributing to proliferation
sensitive nuclear activities, or to the development of
nuclear weapon delivery systems, as referred to in
resolution 1737 (2006). The Financial Action Task
Force, the world's premier standard-setting body for
countering illicit financial transactions, on October
17, 2008, issued guidance on implementation of the
financial provisions of UNSCR 1803, which can be found
at www.fatf-gafi.org/dataoecd/47/41/41529339.pdf .


3. (SBU) The Export Development Bank of Iran provides
financial services to multiple subordinate entities of
Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics
(MODAFL) that permit these entities to advance Iran's
WMD programs. EDBI has facilitated the ongoing
procurement activities of various front companies
associated with MODAFL-subordinate entities. Also
designated were three additional entities which were
found to be owned or controlled by or acting or
purporting to act for or on behalf of the EDBI. These
entities are: the EDBI Stock Brokerage Company and the
EDBI Exchange Company, both located in Iran, and Banco
Internacional de Desarrollo, CA, a financial institution
located in Venezuela. These designations highlight the
dangers of doing business with Iranian financial
institutions, and provide information that will help
financial institutions in the U.S. and worldwide protect
themselves from deceptive financial practices employed
by Iranian entities like the EDBI that engage in or
support proliferation.

For GERMANY only:
(SBU) Europaisich-Iranische Handelsbank AG (EIH),a
German bank, has been one of the key financial
institutions that the EDBI uses to facilitate this
activity in Europe.


4. (SBU) We want to convey to host governments that any
entity in their jurisdiction found to be conducting
business with EDBI and its affiliates and any other
designated entities, or any entity that is owned or
controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of EDBI and
its affiliates, may be subject to designation under E.O.

13382.

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OBJECTIVES/ACTION REQUEST
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5. (SBU) Posts are requested to pursue the following
objectives. In doing so, Posts may draw from the press
statement released by the State Department on October
22, 2008, which can be found at
www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/oct/111150.htm ; the press
statement released by the Treasury Department, which can
be found at www.treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1231.htm;
and paragraphs 2-4 above. Press statements may be
passed to host government officials.

-- Inform host government officials of the U.S.
designations under E.O. 13382 of the Export Development

STATE 00114408 002 OF 002


Bank of Iran (EDBI),and its affiliates: the EDBI Stock
Brokerage Company and the EDBI Exchange Company, both
located in Iran; and Banco Internacional de Desarrollo,
CA, a financial institution located in Venezuela.

-- Notify host government officials that these
designations are aimed at implementing USG obligations
under UNSCRs 1737, 1747 and 1803.

-- Urge host governments, in accordance with obligations
under UNSCRs 1737, 1747 and 1803, and consistent with
national laws and regulations, to freeze the assets of
these entities if they have not already done so, as well
as the assets of persons or entities acting on their
behalf or at their direction, or by entities owned or
controlled by them.

-- Note that firms in the jurisdiction of host
governments risk designation under E.O. 13382 if they
act or purport to act for or on behalf of, directly or
indirectly, EDBI and its affiliates, or any other E.O.
13382 designated entity, and/or if they provide, or
attempt to provide, financial, material, technological,
or other support for, or goods or services in support of
any designated entity.

-- Remind host governments that on October 17, 2008,
Financial Action Task Force recently issued guidance on
Paragraph 10 of UNSCR 1803, which calls upon all Member
States to exercise vigilance over the activities of
financial institutions in their territories with all
banks domiciled in Iran, in particular with Bank Melli
and Bank Saderat, and their branches and subsidiaries
abroad. The link to the guidance can be found at
www.fatf-gafi.org/dataoecd/47/41/41529339.pdf .

For Germany Only:
-- Urge Germany to consider the heightened risk posed by
EIH's relationship with EDBI and take immediate steps to
address that risk.

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REPORTING DEADLINE
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6. (U) Please report delivery of the demarche and any
response within seven days of receipt of this cable.
Please slug replies for ISN, T, TREASURY, and NEA/IR.
Please use SIPDIS caption on all responses.

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POINT OF CONTACT
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7. (U) Washington point of contact for follow-up
information is Kevin McGeehan, ISN/CPI, (202) 647-5408,
McGeehanKJ@state.sgov.gov.


8. (U) Department thanks Post for its assistance.
RICE