Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM135
2009-02-27 09:20:00
SECRET
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
NEW IRANIAN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE USED BELL
how-toVZCZCXRO4519 OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV DE RUEHSM #0135 0580920 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 270920Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4170 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 0050 RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T STOCKHOLM 000135
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: ETRD ETTC KOMC MCAP PARM MY IR SW
SUBJECT: NEW IRANIAN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE USED BELL
HELICOPTER IN SWEDEN
REF: A. 08 STOCKHOLM 423
B. 08 STOCKHOLM 609
C. 08 STOCKHOLM 744
D. 08 STOCKHOLM 772
Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T STOCKHOLM 000135
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: ETRD ETTC KOMC MCAP PARM MY IR SW
SUBJECT: NEW IRANIAN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE USED BELL
HELICOPTER IN SWEDEN
REF: A. 08 STOCKHOLM 423
B. 08 STOCKHOLM 609
C. 08 STOCKHOLM 744
D. 08 STOCKHOLM 772
Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) On February 25, Helicopter inspector and aviation
consultant Arnold Sundquist (protect source) told us that two
Iranians called from Germany to inquire about purchasing a
used Bell 212 helicopter that Sundquist has advertised for
sale. The two men flew to Karlsborg, Sweden to meet with
Sundquist and to inspect the helo in question. The two men
identified themselves to Sundquist as Akbar Kabiri, allegedly
the son of a high-ranking mullah in Iran, and John
Schneider-Merck, possibly a dual Iranian-German national
traveling on a German passport. Schneider-Merck is a
marketing consultant with GEBR. H&J Schneider-Merck GMBH,
which has offices in Hamburg, Dubai, Baghdad and Tehran.
2. (S) The two men were eager to put a down payment on the
helo even after Sundquist had explained that the helo would
need about 9-12 months of work before it could be moved from
Sweden. When Sundquist asked the men how they planned to get
the helo to Iran, Schneider-Merck stated that they intended
to ship the helo to Malaysia and register it there for first
and then re-export it to Iran. According to Sundquist,
Schneider-Merck then explained that he uses a Malaysian
company named "Pan Ha" to ship parts for helos and fixed-wing
aircraft to Iran on a regular basis.
3 (S) Sundquist has provided valuable information to post
about previous attempts by Iranians to acquire Bell
helicopters in Sweden (reftels).
SILVERMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: ETRD ETTC KOMC MCAP PARM MY IR SW
SUBJECT: NEW IRANIAN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE USED BELL
HELICOPTER IN SWEDEN
REF: A. 08 STOCKHOLM 423
B. 08 STOCKHOLM 609
C. 08 STOCKHOLM 744
D. 08 STOCKHOLM 772
Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) On February 25, Helicopter inspector and aviation
consultant Arnold Sundquist (protect source) told us that two
Iranians called from Germany to inquire about purchasing a
used Bell 212 helicopter that Sundquist has advertised for
sale. The two men flew to Karlsborg, Sweden to meet with
Sundquist and to inspect the helo in question. The two men
identified themselves to Sundquist as Akbar Kabiri, allegedly
the son of a high-ranking mullah in Iran, and John
Schneider-Merck, possibly a dual Iranian-German national
traveling on a German passport. Schneider-Merck is a
marketing consultant with GEBR. H&J Schneider-Merck GMBH,
which has offices in Hamburg, Dubai, Baghdad and Tehran.
2. (S) The two men were eager to put a down payment on the
helo even after Sundquist had explained that the helo would
need about 9-12 months of work before it could be moved from
Sweden. When Sundquist asked the men how they planned to get
the helo to Iran, Schneider-Merck stated that they intended
to ship the helo to Malaysia and register it there for first
and then re-export it to Iran. According to Sundquist,
Schneider-Merck then explained that he uses a Malaysian
company named "Pan Ha" to ship parts for helos and fixed-wing
aircraft to Iran on a regular basis.
3 (S) Sundquist has provided valuable information to post
about previous attempts by Iranians to acquire Bell
helicopters in Sweden (reftels).
SILVERMAN