Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE97993
2008-09-12 20:01:00
SECRET
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

IRANIAN UAV PROGRAM SEEKING JAPANESE-ORIGIN ITEMS

Tags:  MTCRE PARM PREL MNUC ETTC KSCA JA IR TW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #7993 2562008
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P R 122001Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0000
INFO MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME COLLECTIVE
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0000
S E C R E T STATE 097993 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2033
TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL MNUC ETTC KSCA JA IR TW
SUBJECT: IRANIAN UAV PROGRAM SEEKING JAPANESE-ORIGIN ITEMS
(S)

Classified By: ISN/MTR DIRECTOR PAM DURHAM FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(C),
AND (D).

S E C R E T STATE 097993

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2033
TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL MNUC ETTC KSCA JA IR TW
SUBJECT: IRANIAN UAV PROGRAM SEEKING JAPANESE-ORIGIN ITEMS
(S)

Classified By: ISN/MTR DIRECTOR PAM DURHAM FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(C),
AND (D).


1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Tokyo,
please see paragraph 5.


2. (S) Background: The U.S. has information
indicating that in June and July 2008, a procurement
manager for the Iranian UAV entities Fan Pardazan and
Qods Aviation (or Aeronautics) Industries sought servo
motors manufactured by the Japanese firm Tonegawa-Seiko
from a representative of the Taiwan firm Prime Kit
Enterprises. (Note: Qods is designated under UNSCR
1747 for its association with the Iranian Revolutionary
Guard Corps. End note.) The Prime Kit representative
confirmed that he could supply these items and provided
a price quote. He also advised that the motors would
be delivered from Taiwan to Iran within three weeks of
receiving payment.


3. (S) In separate activity in late July, the same
Iranian procurement manager also sought to acquire
optical filters and block cameras manufactured by the
Japanese firms Hoya and Sony, respectively. While
these items - like the servo motors - are uncontrolled
and have commercial applications, we suspect they are
intended for use in Iranian UAVS due to the Iranian
manager's affiliation with the Iranian UAV program.


4. (S) Objectives: We want to share this information
with Japanese officials and urge them to take
appropriate measures to prevent Japanese firms from
acting - even unwittingly - as suppliers to Iranian
entities of proliferation concern. Because Qods
Aviation is designated under UNSCR 1747, any goods
destined for Qods would be subject to the asset
freeze provision in para 12 on UNSCR 1737.


5. (S) Action Request: Request Embassy Tokyo
approach appropriate host government officials to
deliver talking points/non-paper in paragraph 6 below
and report response. Talking points also may be
provided as a non-paper.


6. (S) Begin talking points/non-paper:

(SECRET//REL JAPAN)


-- In the spirit of our nonproliferation partnership,
we would like to alert you to a matter of potential
proliferation concern and request your assistance in
investigating this activity.

-- The U.S. has information indicating that in June,
July and early August 2008, an Iranian procurement
manager likely associated with Iran's unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) program sought information on a variety
of Japanese-origin items suitable for use in UAVs.

-- Specifically, in late June, a procurement manager
with the Iranian firm Fan Pardazan sought prices for 40
SSPS105 servo motors and an unknown quantity of PS050
servo motors manufactured by the Japanese firm
Tonegawa-Seiko Company Ltd. from Chen of the Taiwan
firm Prime Kit Enterprises.

-- Chen advised the Iranian procurement manager in mid-
July that he could provide the SSPS105 servo motors at
a unit price of 320 euros for a total price of 12,800
euros. These items would be delivered by air from
Taiwan to Tehran within three weeks of payment.

-- The servo motors the Iranian is seeking from Chen
are suitable for use in flight control systems in UAVs.

-- We believe the Iranian manager procures equipment
and parts for both Fan Pardazan and Qods Aviation (or
Aeronautics) Industries.

-- Qods is one of two entities responsible for Iran's
UAV development efforts, and is an entity designated
under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747
for its association with the Iranian Revolutionary
Guard Corps.

-- Qods and Fan Pardazan also share the same mailing
address in Tehran: P.O. Box 15875-1834, Tehran, Iran.

-- In addition, we would like to advise you on a
separate matter that in late July the same Iranian
manager, using an alias, may have sought to acquire
other Japanese-origin items, including Hoya HY37CPL
optical filters from the Hong Kong firm Litamos
Electronics Ltd. as well as Sony FCB-EX11DP 10X and
FCB-EX990DP 26X wide D Pal version block cameras from
the Iranian firm Farazeh Equipment Distributor Company
(FEDCO).

-- Although these items have commercial applications,
we suspect they are intended for use in UAVs because of
the Iranian manager's affiliation with the Iranian UAV
program through Fan Pardazan and Qods.

-- Because Qods Aviation is designated under UNSCR
1747, any goods destined for Qods would be subject to
the asset freeze provision in para 12 on UNSCR 1737.

-- We ask that you take appropriate measures to prevent
Japanese firms from acting - even inadvertently - as
suppliers to Iranian entities of proliferation concern.

-- We look forward to continued cooperation with your
government on nonproliferation and export control
matters, and would appreciate hearing the results of
any actions you take in response to this information.

End talking points/non-paper


7. (U) Please contact ISN/MTR's John Paul Herrmann
with any questions or follow-up issues related to
this case (202-647-1430 - herrmannjp2@state.sgov.gov)
and slug any reporting on this issue for ISN/MTR and
EAP/J.


8. (U) A word version of this document will be
posted at www.state.sgov.gov/demarche.
RICE