AUSTRIA: EXPANDING THE CHORUS ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001195 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2024 TAGS: KNNP MNUC IAEA PARM UN IR AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: EXPANDING THE CHORUS ON IRAN REF: (A) STATE 95073 (B) STATE 94757 Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor J. Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Amb. Eacho delivered ref A demarche August 16 to Austrian Political Director Stefan Lehne, emphasizing both the potential impact on Iran's conduct in the upcoming Oct. 1 P-5 1 talks and potential downstream benefits should further discussion of sanctions in the UNSC prove necessary. Lehne responded positively to the approach, indicating that Austria shared USG concerns and was frustrated by the content of Iran's Sept. 9 proposal. ¶2. (C) Lehne reported that Austrian FonMin Spindelegger will meet with Iranian FonMin Mottaki during UNGA week and will convey Austria's view that Iran must engage substantively on the nuclear issue in the October 1 talks and move to address global concerns about its program. Lehne also reported that Spindelegger will raise the cases of the six Amcits detained in Iran (ref B). Acknowledging the possibility that Iran's professed willingness to talk may be a "totally insincere" delaying tactic, Lehne noted that he had discussed the issue with Spindelegger, and that Austria would be supportive, if necessary, of a debate on further sanctions in the UNSC in the fall. Believing effective measures "hard to see" without Russia and China, Austria would have to evaluate how to proceed (i.e., whether to consider non-UN sanctions) only after discussion in the UNSC. Asked whether President Fischer would speak to Iran's nuclear program in his remarks to the General Assembly, Lehne was unsure, noting only that the text was not yet finished and that he would make inquiries. ¶3. (C) Lehne noted that Iran would also be a topic in FonMin Spindelegger's Nov. 17 meetings with Foreign Secretary Miliband in London. Embassy officers also raised reftel A points in meetings with MFA Directors for Disarmament, UN Affairs, and the Middle East, receiving substantially the same reply as provided by Political Director Lehne. EACHO