(S) ALERTING TURKEY TO EFFORTS BY IRAN TO ACQUIRE

S E C R E T STATE 003403

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2034
TAGS: PARM MTCRE PREL TW IR TU
SUBJECT: (S) ALERTING TURKEY TO EFFORTS BY IRAN TO ACQUIRE
MACHINE TOOLS THROUGH TURKISH INTERMEDIARIES

Classified By: ISN/MTR DIRECTOR PAM DURHAM
REASONS 1.4 (B),(C) AND (D).


1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Ankara, please
see paragraph 4.


2. (S) Background: The U.S. has information that in June
2008, the Iranian company Machine Sazi Tabriz was seeking to
procure Taiwan-origin machine tools through two Turkish
companies. We believe Machine Sazi Tabriz was working with
these two Turkish companies because it could not acquire
these machines directly from Taiwan due to export control
restrictions. We are concerned that these machines were
being sought to support Iran's missile development efforts
because Machine Sazi Tabriz has been associated with
proliferation-related procurement for Iran's liquid
propellant ballistic missile developer, Shahid Hemmat
Industries Group (SHIG). We want to provide this information
to Turkish authorities to support their export control
efforts and urge them to use all available measures to
prevent Turkish intermediaries from acting as a source of
supply for missile-related entities in Iran.


3. (S) Action Request: Request Embassy Ankara approach
appropriate host government authorities to deliver talking
points/non-paper in paragraph 4 below and report response.
Talking points also may be provided as a non-paper.


4. (S) Begin talking points/non-paper:

(SECRET REL TURKEY)

-- We would like to alert you to information concerning
efforts by two entities in Turkey to facilitate Iran's
procurement of Taiwan-origin machine tools and request your
assistance in investigating this activity.

-- Specifically, we understand that in May and June 2008,
Iran's Machine Sazi Tabriz was seeking to procure a model
VF-3000 double column bridge mill produced by the
Taiwan-based company Vision Wide Tech Co. and a model KAN-50
computer numerically controlled (CNC) flat-bed lathe
manufactured by Taiwan's Proking Machinery.

-- Machine Sazi Tabriz was seeking these machines through two
Turkish companies, Ak Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited
Sirketi and Ak Makina Uluslar Arasi Tic. Ltd.

-- We are concerned that these machines could be intended to
support Iran's ballistic missile development efforts.

-- Machine Sazi Tabriz has been associated with
proliferation-related procurement for Iran's Shahid Hemmat
Industries Group (SHIG),which is responsible for Iran's
liquid propellant ballistic missile program and an entity
designated under United Nations Security Council Resolution

1737.

-- We believe Machine Sazi Tabriz may be working with these
two Turkish companies to procure machine tools it is unable
to acquire directly from Taiwan due to its export control
restrictions regarding Iran.

-- We are providing you this information to support your
export control efforts and urge you to use all available
measures to prevent Turkish intermediaries from acting as a
source of supply for missile-related entities in Iran.

-- We look forward to continued cooperation on export control
and nonproliferation issues and would appreciate hearing any
actions your government takes in response to this
information.

End talking points/non-paper


5. (U) Washington POC is ISN/MTR James Mayes (Phone:
202-647-3185). Please slug any reporting on this issue for
ISN/MTR.


6. (U) A word version file of this document will be posted
at www.state.sgov.gov/demarche.
RICE