IRANIAN UAV PROGRAM SEEKING JAPANESE-ORIGIN ITEMS

S E C R E T STATE 032269 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2034 TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL MNUC ETTC KSCA JA IR IT SUBJECT: IRANIAN UAV PROGRAM SEEKING JAPANESE-ORIGIN ITEMS VIA ITALIAN COMPANY (S) REF: A. STATE 97993 ¶B. TOKYO 2554 ¶C. 07 STATE 113257 ¶D. 07 TOKYO 3805 ¶E. 07 TOKYO 4687 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 4. ¶2. (S) Background: Since the summer of 2007, we have discussed with Japanese officials the efforts of entities acting on behalf of Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program to acquire SSPS105 and PS050 servo-actuators manufactured by the Japanese firm Tonegawa-Seiko. These efforts have included approaches to Tonegawa-Seiko by the Taiwan-based intermediary Prime Kit Enterprises, as well as by numerous Malaysia- based intermediaries including Microset Systems, Evertop Services, and an individual named Hamed Ghazvinian. Both Evertop and Ghazvinian were working on behalf of Iranian procurement entity Farazeh Equipment Distributor Company (FEDCO),a known supplier to Iran's UAV program. Japanese officials have met with Tonegawa-Seiko representatives to discuss this matter, and advised us that the firm itself became suspicious of multiple requests by foreign entities to purchase the servo-actuators, and refused to fill the orders. ¶3. (S) Additional background and objectives: We now have information indicating that in mid-February 2009, FEDCO sought Tonegawa-Seiko servo-actuators via the Italian firm Alpi Aviation. We also understand that FEDCO was utilizing another Iran-based firm, possibly Samnow Company, as an intermediary in this transaction. We believe that this activity is a continuation of the Iranian UAV program's efforts to acquire Tonegawa-Seiko servo motors, which are not controlled but could be used as UAV flight control systems, and want to share this information with Japanese officials in order to support their ongoing investigation of this matter. ¶4. (S) Action Request: Request Embassy Tokyo approach appropriate host government officials to deliver talking points/non-paper in paragraph 5 below and report response. Talking points also may be provided as a non-paper. ¶5. (S) Begin talking points/non-paper: (SECRET//REL JAPAN) -- We would like to raise with you a matter of proliferation concern and request your assistance in investigating this activity. -- Since August 2007, we have been discussing with you efforts by Iran-based entities to acquire servo- actuators manufactured by the Japanese firm Tonegawa- Seiko on behalf of Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program. -- In September 2008, we informed you that an individual affiliated with the Iranian UAV developers Fan Pardazan and Qods Aviation Industries was seeking model SSPS105 and model PS050 servo motors produced by Tonegawa-Seiko. -- In October 2008, we shared with you information indicating that an individual associated with the Malaysia-based firm Evertop Services Sdn Bhd was seeking to procure 85 model PS050 servo motors from Tonegawa-Seiko. -- This activity coincided with a request to Evertop Services by Iran's UAV program for information on 350 model PS050 servo motors and 40 model SSPS105 servo motors. -- Most recently, we informed you that in late December 2008, a Malaysia-based Iranian broker named Hamed Ghazvinian was working to purchase 1,000 Tonegawa-Seiko model PS050 servos and accessories on behalf of Iran's Farazeh Equipment Distributor Company (FEDCO). -- FEDCO is the Iran-based parent company of Evertop Services and other Iranian procurement companies operating in Malaysia and elsewhere and has previously acted as a supplier for Iran's UAV program. -- FEDCO has also procured equipment on behalf of Iran's liquid propellant missile developer Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG). -- We now have new information to share with you related to FEDCO's efforts to acquire Tonegawa-Seiko servo actuators. -- Specifically, we understand that as of mid-February 2009, FEDCO was seeking Tonegawa-Seiko PS050 and SSPS105 servos via the Italian firm Alpi Aviation. -- FEDCO was utilizing another Iran-based firm, possibly Samnow Company, as an intermediary in these efforts. -- A Tonegawa-Seiko representative may have provided a quotation for this equipment to Alpi Aviation. -- We believe that this activity is part of a long- standing effort by Iran's UAV program to procure servo motors and other equipment produced by Tonegawa-Seiko. -- We hope you will use this information to support your ongoing investigation into this activity and help prevent Iranian intermediaries from procuring UAV- related items from sources in Japan. -- We look forward to continued close 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 ¶6. (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. ¶7. (U) A word version of this document will be posted at www.state.sgov.gov/demarche. CLINTON