IRANIAN UAV PROGRAM SEEKING JAPANESE-ORIGIN ITEMS

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