Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE36834
2009-04-14 21:44:00
SECRET
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

ALERTING GERMANY TO A SHIPMENT OF UAVS FROM IRAN

Tags:  PARM PREL MASS ETTC GE TU VE IR 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #6834 1042203
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O P 142144Z APR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0000
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0000
S E C R E T STATE 036834 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MASS ETTC GE TU VE IR
SUBJECT: ALERTING GERMANY TO A SHIPMENT OF UAVS FROM IRAN
TO VENEZUELA

REF: A. SECSTATE 28302

B. ANKARA 450

Classified By: EUR/PRA Acting Director Kathleen Morenski,
Reason 1.4 (b),(c),and (d).

---------
BACKGROUND
----------
S E C R E T STATE 036834

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MASS ETTC GE TU VE IR
SUBJECT: ALERTING GERMANY TO A SHIPMENT OF UAVS FROM IRAN
TO VENEZUELA

REF: A. SECSTATE 28302

B. ANKARA 450

Classified By: EUR/PRA Acting Director Kathleen Morenski,
Reason 1.4 (b),(c),and (d).

--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------

1. (S/NF) On March 25, we alerted Turkey to Iranian plans to
ship unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Venezuela (REF A).
The GOT expressed appreciation for the information and
promised to share it with select officials on that same day.
Turkish officials agreed to take the necessary action to
prevent this shipment and requested additional information
about the timing and possible companies involved in the
shipment (REF B). We are in the process of sharing additional
information with Turkey.


2. (S) The U.S. also has information indicating that
Venezuela was considering diverting some disassembled UAV
components through the port of Hamburg, Germany in order to
minimize the risk of detection and interdiction. We would
therefore also like to alert Germany to this activity. The
U.S. believes this shipment constitutes arms and related
materiel, which Iran is prohibited from transferring pursuant
to the UN Security Council Resolution 1747, operative
paragraph 5. While UAVs are not directly included in the UN
Register of Conventional Arms, they are included in the
Wassenaar Arrangement's list of arms (Section 4.2). (Germany
is a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement.)

--------------
ACTION REQUEST
--------------


3. (S) Department requests post approach appropriate German
officials to deliver the talking points in paragraph 5 and
report response. (Talking points may also be left as a
non-paper.) If the cargo is found to be in violation of
UNSCR 1747, Post should request that Germany use all
available means to prevent the transshipment of this cargo
and detain it.

--------------
OBJECTIVES
--------------


4. (S) Post should seek to achieve the following:

-- Provide German officials with information regarding Iran's
attempt to ship unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related

materiel to Venezuela via Turkey and possibly Germany;

-- Emphasize to German officials that UN Security Council
Resolution (UNSCR) 1747, operative paragraph 5, prohibits
Iran from transferring any arms or related materiel;

-- Emphasize that these goods are produced by an Iranian
entity listed in the Annex to UNSCR 1747;

-- Urge the Government of Germany (GOG) to take action
against this potential shipment pursuant to UNSCR 1747 and
possibly 1737, and in accordance with the GOG's laws and
authorities;

-- As a NATO Ally, we try to provide Germany with as much
information as possible on these issues, which could help
lead them to take action in detaining shipments; and

-- Emphasize that, should we receive additional information
regarding this shipment, we will provide it as expeditiously
as possible.

--------------
TALKING POINTS/NON-PAPER
--------------


5. (S/REL GERMANY)

-- We would like to share some information with you in an
effort to prevent a potential transfer of proliferation
concern and to ensure that Iran does not make use of your
territory to export items proscribed by UN Security Council
Resolution 1747.

-- Venezuelan officials were expecting the shipment of
Iranian Mohajer-2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and
UAV-related equipment from Iran by May 2009. Those officials
believed that the equipment would be repackaged and labeled
as electronic equipment before being transported overland
from Iran to Turkey, and from there to Venezuela by ship.

-- Venezuelan officials were also considering the possibility
of diverting some of the disassembled UAV components through
the port of Hamburg to minimize the risk of detection and
interdiction.

-- We believe these reconnaissance UAVs and the related items
-- produced by the UN-designated Qods Aviation Industries --
will be used by the Venezuelan military and meet the standard
for arms and related materiel captured under UNSCR 1747. If
owned or controlled by Qods Aviation Industries, the UAVs and
related items would also be subject to the asset freeze
called for under UNSCR 1737.

-- UN Security Council Resolution 1747, operative paragraph
5, prohibits Iran from supplying, selling or transferring any
arms or related materiel. It also requires all states to
prohibit the procurement of such items from Iran by their
nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, and
whether or not such transfers originated in the territory of
Iran.

-- We deeply appreciate the Government of Germany's continued
cooperation, support, and willingness to enact prompt and
thorough efforts in promoting interdictions designed to
prevent the transfer of sensitive materials by Iran.

END POINTS

--------------
REPORTING REQUIREMENT
--------------


6. (U) Post is instructed to report results of its efforts as
soon as possible.

--------------
POINTS OF CONTACT
--------------


7. (U) Washington points of contact for follow up are
Margaret T. Mitchell, ISN/CATR, and Matt Hardiman, EUR./PRA.


8. (U) Department thanks post for its assistance. Please
slug all responses for ISN, EUR, NEA, IO, WHA, and T.
CLINTON