GOC RESPONSE TO LATE FEBRUARY IAEA REPORTS ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000172 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR ISN/RA (NEPHEW) E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IR IAEA SUBJECT: GOC RESPONSE TO LATE FEBRUARY IAEA REPORTS ON IRAN REF: A. A. STATE 019694 ¶B. B. STATE 19200 Classified By: A/DCM Rick Holtzapple, Reasons 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. Embassy PolOff delivered points outlined in reftels to Mario Horvatic, GOC's representative on the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors. Horvatic expected a more positive response from the EU to the reports from Director General ElBaradei and Deputy Director General for Safeguards Heinonen. Though the EU report was still being coordinated, Horvatic noted some unnamed members had gone as far as to argue these reports represent a "turning point" for Iran. He expected the final report to note the encouraging, positive steps Iran has taken toward transparency, while underlining the fact all outstanding issues regarding their weapons program must be resolved. The GOC will closely coordinate their position with that of the U.S. and the EU. Horvatic noted he had delivered the same message to the Iranian ambassador to Croatia. The ambassador had called on Horvatic to discuss the recent IAEA reports. While he offered congratulations on the steps Iran has already taken, Horvatic said he also expressed the need for Iran to resolve all outstanding international obligations and cooperate fully with the IAEA. Bradtke