Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE63929
2008-06-13 14:35:00
SECRET
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

IRANIAN DECEPTIVE FINANCIAL PRACTICES

Tags:  ECON EFIN KNNP PARM PTER IR UK CH SK HK 
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VZCZCXYZ0006
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #3929 1651444
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 131435Z JUN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG IMMEDIATE 0000
S E C R E T STATE 063929 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2033
TAGS: ECON EFIN KNNP PARM PTER IR UK CH SK HK
SUBJECT: IRANIAN DECEPTIVE FINANCIAL PRACTICES

Classified By: ISN DAS Ken Staley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T STATE 063929

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2033
TAGS: ECON EFIN KNNP PARM PTER IR UK CH SK HK
SUBJECT: IRANIAN DECEPTIVE FINANCIAL PRACTICES

Classified By: ISN DAS Ken Staley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.

--------------
SUMMARY/BACKGROUND
--------------


2. (S) We have information about Iranian deceptive financial
practices that may be occurring in addressees' jurisdictions.
We want to alert host governments and urge them to
investigate and take steps to protect their jurisdictions
from being exploited by Iran to facilitate proliferation- or
terrorism-related financial transactions.

--------------
OBJECTIVE/ACTION REQUEST
--------------


3. (S/REL ROK, CHINA, HONG KONG, UK) Washington requests
Posts deliver the non-paper in paragraph 4 to appropriate
host government officials in the ministries of foreign
affairs and finance. Post should pursue the following
objectives:

-- Inform jurisdictions that the U.S. believes financial
transactions with Iranian banks and entities pose a
significant risk of facilitating proliferation related to
Iran's nuclear or missile programs.

-- Note that jurisdictions should, consistent with UNSCR
1803, prohibit all transactions involving any dual-use
technology on the NSG control list to or for the benefit of
Iran and establish reporting and/or licensing requirements
for all transactions executed by Iranian banks.

-- The nature of Iranian activities suggests that
jurisdictions should take a broad interpretation of the call
for vigilance contained in UNSCR 1803 and statements by the
FATF.

FOR THE UK:

-- (S//REL UK) Note that Melli Bank PLC Hong Kong is a branch
of the London-based Melli Bank PLC and is subject to UK
jurisdiction. We would be interested in learning what
measures the UK has taken or will take to ensure Melli Bank
PLC Hong Kong does not support Iran's procurement of
proliferation sensitive technology.

--------------
NONPAPER FOR ROK, CHINA, HONG KONG, UK
--------------


4. (SECRET//REL ROK, CHINA, HONG KONG, UK) BEGIN POINTS FOR
ROK, CHINA, HONG KONG, UK:

-- We would like to raise serious concerns regarding Iranian
financial activities in your jurisdiction.

-- The United States has information that Iran Aircraft
Manufacturing Industries (HESA) may have altered the details
on a letter of credit (L/C) for an order of items from Hong
Kong Company Jetpower Industrial in April 2008.

-- Specifically, HESA may have simplified the description of
the goods to "Raw materials"; and changed the corresponding
bank from Bank Mellat, Seoul Branch, Korea, to Melli Bank
PLC, Hong Kong Branch.

-- Simplifying the description of the goods could be efforts
by HESA to avoid additional scrutiny of the items being
transferred, and could indicate that this transaction was
intended to circumvent controls jurisdictions have put in
place to implement UN sanctions.

-- The United States designated Bank Melli under domestic
authority (Executive Order 13382) for providing banking
services to entities involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic
missile programs, including entities designated by the UN
Security Council for their involvement in those activities:
Bank Sepah, DIO and SHIG. The U.S. designated Bank Mellat
under E.O. 13382 for providing banking services to entities
involved in Iran's nuclear program, including the Atomic
Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and Novin Energy.

-- We urge you to investigate and take steps to prevent your
companies from engaging in deceptive financial practices. We
encourage Hong Kong and Korean regulators to take concrete
action to prevent Bank Melli Hong Kong and Bank Mellat, Seoul
from absorbing proliferation-related business that may have
been diverted from other jurisdictions to the Asian financial
sector.

-- We look forward to working with you on this and other
related security and counter-proliferation matters, and are
prepared to provide additional assistance as appropriate.

END POINTS FOR ROK, CHINA, HONG KONG, UK.

--------------
REPORTING DEADLINE
--------------


5. (U) Posts should report results within seven days of
receipt of cable. Please slug replies for ISN, T, Treasury,
NEA, EUR and EAP. Please include SIPDIS in all replies.

--------------
POINT OF CONTACT
--------------


6. (U) Washington point of contact for follow-up information
is Michelle New, ISN/CPI, (202) 647-0186, or
newml@state.sgov.gov.


7. (U) Department thanks Posts for their assistance.
RICE