Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE121356
2008-11-14 21:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
REVOCATION OF IRAN,S U-TURN GENERAL LICENSE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0014 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #1356 3192136 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 142126Z NOV 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHVT/AMEMBASSY VALLETTA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW IMMEDIATE 0000 INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 121356
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL EFIN KNNP
SUBJECT: REVOCATION OF IRAN,S U-TURN GENERAL LICENSE
REF: 08STATE115523
UNCLAS STATE 121356
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL EFIN KNNP
SUBJECT: REVOCATION OF IRAN,S U-TURN GENERAL LICENSE
REF: 08STATE115523
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
--------------
SUMMARY/BACKGROUND
--------------
2. (SBU) On November 6, 2008, the Department of the Treasury
revoked Iran's "U-turn" general license in order to protect
U.S. financial institutions individually, and the U.S.
financial system as a whole, from the significant terrorist
financing and proliferation risks posed by Iran. (Note: A
"U-turn" general license allows States to process
transactions through the U.S. financial system using
third-country banks, thus obscuring the origin of the
transaction. End Note.) On October 16, 2008, the Financial
Action Task Force (FATF) issued its fourth statement
declaring that Iran continues to "pose a serious threat to
the integrity of the international financial system" and
called for countries worldwide to strengthen measures to
protect their financial sectors from this threat. This
Treasury action implements FATF's call to strengthen measures
to protect the financial sector from the risks posed to the
international financial system by Iran, as called for by
FATF.
3. (SBU) This is a follow up cable to a previous demarche
(Ref A) that requested host governments take action in
response to the FATF statement. Posts are requested to
notify host governments of this action by the U.S. to fulfill
FATF's call by sharing the text of Treasury's press statement
and fact sheet.
--------------
OBJECTIVES/ACTION REQUEST
--------------
4. (SBU) Posts should share the November 6, 2008 Treasury
statement, which can be downloaded from the following link:
http://treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1256.htm ; and the
Treasury fact sheet, which can be downloaded from the
following link:
http://treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1258.htm . Posts may
also want to refer host governments to the FATF's October 16,
2008 statement on Iran, which can be downloaded from
www.fatf-gafi.org/dataoecd/25/17/41508956.pdf .
5. Action request: Posts should inquire whether host
governments have announced their intention to or have already
taken specific action to address the FATF statement on Iran
(REFTEL).
--------------
REPORTING DEADLINE
--------------
6. (U) Post should report results by close of business
within seven days of receipt of cable. Please slug replies
for ISN, T, Treasury, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT, and INL. Please
caption all replies SIPDIS.
--------------
POINT OF CONTACT
--------------
7. (U) Washington points of contact for follow-up
information are Kevin McGeehan, ISN/CPI, (202)
647-5408, mcgeehankj@state.sgov.gov and Sonata Coulter,
EEB/ESC, (202)647-5027, coultersn@state.gov.
8. (U) Department thanks Posts for their assistance.
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL EFIN KNNP
SUBJECT: REVOCATION OF IRAN,S U-TURN GENERAL LICENSE
REF: 08STATE115523
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
--------------
SUMMARY/BACKGROUND
--------------
2. (SBU) On November 6, 2008, the Department of the Treasury
revoked Iran's "U-turn" general license in order to protect
U.S. financial institutions individually, and the U.S.
financial system as a whole, from the significant terrorist
financing and proliferation risks posed by Iran. (Note: A
"U-turn" general license allows States to process
transactions through the U.S. financial system using
third-country banks, thus obscuring the origin of the
transaction. End Note.) On October 16, 2008, the Financial
Action Task Force (FATF) issued its fourth statement
declaring that Iran continues to "pose a serious threat to
the integrity of the international financial system" and
called for countries worldwide to strengthen measures to
protect their financial sectors from this threat. This
Treasury action implements FATF's call to strengthen measures
to protect the financial sector from the risks posed to the
international financial system by Iran, as called for by
FATF.
3. (SBU) This is a follow up cable to a previous demarche
(Ref A) that requested host governments take action in
response to the FATF statement. Posts are requested to
notify host governments of this action by the U.S. to fulfill
FATF's call by sharing the text of Treasury's press statement
and fact sheet.
--------------
OBJECTIVES/ACTION REQUEST
--------------
4. (SBU) Posts should share the November 6, 2008 Treasury
statement, which can be downloaded from the following link:
http://treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1256.htm ; and the
Treasury fact sheet, which can be downloaded from the
following link:
http://treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1258.htm . Posts may
also want to refer host governments to the FATF's October 16,
2008 statement on Iran, which can be downloaded from
www.fatf-gafi.org/dataoecd/25/17/41508956.pdf .
5. Action request: Posts should inquire whether host
governments have announced their intention to or have already
taken specific action to address the FATF statement on Iran
(REFTEL).
--------------
REPORTING DEADLINE
--------------
6. (U) Post should report results by close of business
within seven days of receipt of cable. Please slug replies
for ISN, T, Treasury, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT, and INL. Please
caption all replies SIPDIS.
--------------
POINT OF CONTACT
--------------
7. (U) Washington points of contact for follow-up
information are Kevin McGeehan, ISN/CPI, (202)
647-5408, mcgeehankj@state.sgov.gov and Sonata Coulter,
EEB/ESC, (202)647-5027, coultersn@state.gov.
8. (U) Department thanks Posts for their assistance.
RICE