IRAN/SANCTIONS: MUTED COUNCIL SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001174

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC PGOV ETTC
SUBJECT: IRAN/SANCTIONS: MUTED COUNCIL SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
ONGOING CONCERNS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On December 11, the Chair of the 1737
(Iran) Sanctions Committee updated the Council on the
Committee's activities during the last ninety days,
highlighting a briefing by the United States on the transfer
of goods and technology to Iran and a briefing by Norway on a
planned nuclear training program. A number of Security
Council members responded with statements of concern that
Iran is still not fulfilling its obligations under previous
Council resolutions, with the US, UK, France, and Italy
stating that Iran's noncompliance will lead to further
international isolation. EU Council members highlighted the
EU's vigorous efforts to implement the provisions of UNSCR

1803. China and Russia stressed the need for international
efforts to encourage Iran's cooperation. Libya said that
efforts for nonproliferation need to be comprehensive,
claiming that Israel has made a "nuclear free zone" in the
Middle East impossible. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On December 11, Belgian Perm Rep Jan Grauls, in his
capacity as chair of the 1737 (Iran) Sanctions Committee,
updated the Council on the Committee's activities during the
last ninety days. Grauls highlighted that the United States
had briefed the Committee in October on U.S. national efforts
to implement provisions of resolutions 1737 (2006) and 1803
(2008) on the transfer of goods and technology to Iran. He
also noted a briefing by Norway on its efforts to ensure a
planned nuclear training program in Iran had adequate
oversight.


3. (SBU) Ambassador Wolff noted that the IAEA Director
General's report showed Iran's continued failure to comply
with the Council's demands to suspend all uranium
enrichment-related, reprocessing, and heavy-water activities.
He encouraged the Council to redouble efforts for "full and
robust" sanctions implementation as part of their commitment
to the 2-track approach and urged the Iran Sanctions
Committee to consider new, more effective ways to carry out
its mandate.


4. (SBU) France, UK, Costa Rica, and Italy also expressed
serious concern over the report's findings. Costa Rica said
that the report clearly shows violations that "endanger peace
and stability." France, Italy and the UK highlighted efforts
made by the EU to implementation 1803, including increased
financial monitoring and cargo inspections. France also
stated that if Iran continued in noncompliance with the IAEA,
Iran would become further isolated in the international
community.


5. (SBU) Russia urged the Committee to be guided by the
"letter and spirit" of UNSCRs 1737, 1747, and 1803. It noted
that the unanimous adoption of UNSCR 1803 demonstrated unity
of goals, even if "tactical differences" remain. China
emphasized that the Iran issue is connected to other Middle
East issues and energy security. Saying the Iran question was
at a "critical juncture," China said Iran should be
encouraged to strengthen its cooperation with the
international community and that China would continue to play
a constructive role in this regard. Libya urged "enhanced
diplomatic efforts" to find a long-term solution based on
"mutual respect and the peaceful character of Iran's nuclear
program." Libya said the international community should
approach nonproliferation in a "comprehensive and
non-subjective" manner, adding that it regretted that Israel
had not subjected itself to IAEA safeguards, thereby making
it impossible for "peaceful (state) actors to create a
nuclear free zone in the Middle East."
Khalilzad