CANADA SHARES OUR CONCERNS ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000732 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2019 TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP MNUC IAEA CASC IR CA SUBJECT: CANADA SHARES OUR CONCERNS ON IRAN REF: A. STATE 95073 ¶B. STATE 96526 ¶C. OTTAWA 717 ¶D. STATE 94757 Classified By: CDA Terry A. Breese, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) CDA, accompanied by PolMinCouns, delivered ref a Iran demarche on September 17 to Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Political Director Yves Brodeur. CDA highlighted the need to use all public and private avenues, including bilaterally and with other nations, to try to influence Iran and to ensure that Iran understands the dangers of failing to work with the P5 1 constructively. ADM Brodeur expressed appreciation, while noting the historical difficulties in Canada's own relationship with Iran. He promised that Canada would continue to speak out forcefully about the Iran nuclear issue, likely including when Foreign Minister Cannon addresses the UN General Assembly on September 26. (He added that there remained a slight possibility that Prime Minister Harper would instead address the UNGA.) Brodeur, along with Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar Deputy Director Gallit Dobner, also described Canada's intention again to sponsor a UNGA resolution on Iran this year. Canada now is seeking "strong co-sponsorships" to underscore that this was not a Canada/Iran issue but rather a concern of the international community about Iran. ¶2. (C) ADM Brodeur expressed concern about Russian-Iranian ties, and wondered whether there would be sufficient support within the UN Security Council for any additional sanctions. He also pointed to a "nervous" Israel, commenting that its willingness to defer any possible action against Iran was not indefinite. ¶3. (U) CDA provided ADM Brodeur with ref b talking points and President Obama's statement on strengthening missile defense in Europe. ¶4. (C) On consular cases, Ms. Dobner explained that Canada believes that one jailed Canadian/Iranian and possibly two Americans may be on Iran's Eid amnesty list. There are also two other jailed Canadian/Iranians, but their families have asked the government to maintain a low profile on these cases, she added. Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BREESE