AUSTRALIA SHARES AMERICAN POSITION ON THE TEHRAN RESEARCH REACTOR

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000142 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/RA RICHARD NEPHEW E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IRAS AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA SHARES AMERICAN POSITION ON THE TEHRAN RESEARCH REACTOR REF: STATE 15979 ¶1. (U) The Australian government's position on the Tehran Research Reactor is in complete agreement with that of the United States. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Marnie Wright of the Middle East Section quoted the recent press release, February 8, of Foreign Minister Smith: "President Ahmadinejad's call on 7 February for Iran to begin enriching uranium to 20% is a serious provocation and a clear breach of UN Security Council resolutions...Australia also regarded the IAEA's proposal to exchange Iran's low-enriched uranium for processed fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor as a historic opportunity to reverse the path of confrontation with the international community... We urge Iran to accept the Tehran Research Reactor proposal, take concrete steps to build trust and confidence over its nuclear intentions and seize the opportunity for a fundamental change in Iran's dealing with the international community." ¶2. (U) Wright also told us that the same press release made clear that "Australia stands ready to support tough new measures against Iran, including additional UN Security Council sanctions and autonomous sanctions" in the absence of Iran's positive engagement with the IAEA and the P5 1. BLEICH