CROATIA SUPPORTIVE OF U.S. POSITION ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000609 SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO EUR/SCE AND NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2019 TAGS: PREL KNNP MNUC PARM IR HR SUBJECT: CROATIA SUPPORTIVE OF U.S. POSITION ON IRAN REF: SECSTATE 103219 Classified By: Peter D'Amico, POL officer, Reasons 1.4 B/D (C) POL officer delivered reftel points on October 7 to Mario Nobilo Director of the MFA Department for Multilateral and Security Affairs. Nobilo expressed thanks for the readout on the outcome of the P5 1 talks with Iran on October 1 and said that Croatian policy was following the same line. Nobilo noted that he had told the Iranian Ambassador to Croatia earlier in the day that the GoI should utilize this opportunity to engage in genuine talks on its nuclear program, and not just use it as a tactical move to buy time. He agreed that the USG was right to be concerned about possible Iranian backsliding on its commitments due to past experiences with the GoI. Nobilo reported that the Iranian Ambassador briefed the MFA on the points that the GoI made in Geneva. Nobilo told the Iranian Ambassador that based on Croatia's experience it was better to be transparent and comply with the international community, especially since it could have negative consequences for Iran. The Iranian Ambassador said that over the last 30 years the Iranian people had learned to live with the consequences of sanctions. Nobilo stressed that Iran should be transparent about its nuclear program particularly since an arms build up in the region would have very negative consequences. FOLEY