LITHUANIA: EXISTENCE OF A COVERT URANIUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000504 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/RA (NEPHEW) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2019 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA: EXISTENCE OF A COVERT URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY IN IRAN REF: SECSTATE 100153 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Damian R. Leader for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points September 28 to Donatas Vainalavicius, acting head of the MFA's Arms Control and Terrorism Prevention Division. He expressed great interest in the information and promised to share it with his colleagues. He also noted that Lithuania has long shared our concerns about Iran's nuclear program and supports efforts to hold Iran to its international obligations. He said Lithuania would be interested in learning from us whether the recent Iranian missile tests were likely to have any effect on the October 1 meeting with Iran. ¶2. (C) Charge joined with UK and French Ambassadors to make a follow-up joint approach to MFA Political Director Eitvydas Bajarunas September 29. Bajarunas said Lithuania shares our concern about the program and Iran,s deceptive behavior. He said Lithuania understands how serious this issue is both for regional stability and the credibility of the international community, and will go as far as supporting sanctions. Lithuania does not have a resident Iranian ambassador, but Bajarunas said he would contact the Iranian ambassador in Warsaw on the matter and would work with the EU. Charge asked for public support as well, which Bajarunas said he would raise with the Foreign Minister. LEADER