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