US embassy cable - 05CANBERRA509

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000509 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/ANP, NP/MNA, AND NP/RA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KNNP, PARM, AS, IR, IZ, IAEA 
SUBJECT: IRAN: FM DOWNER TO EXPRESS AUSTRALIAN VIEWS ON 
IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND INTERFERENCE IN IRAQ DURING 
IRANIAN MP'S VISIT TO CANBERRA 
 
REF: A. STATE 41957 
     B. STATE 44486 
 
Classified By: ACTING POLCOUNS TAMARA FITZGERALD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B AND 
 D). 
 
1.  (C) DFAT Arms Control Assistant Secretary Peter Shannon 
told us March 9 that Iranian MP Boroujerdi, Chairman of the 
Parliament's National Security Committee, would visit 
Canberra on March 15.  On March 11 we raised with Ben Burdon, 
Policy Director of the Iraq Task Force (ITF), Ref A points 
urging other countries to tell Iran not to interfere in 
Iraq's domestic politics.  Burdon said the ITF had already 
written similar talking points for Foreign Minister Alexander 
Downer's use during the meeting, and the points could be 
distilled down to two words: "butt out."  Shannon had already 
told us that Downer was keen to tell the Iranian MP that Iran 
must permanently cease all nuclear enrichment activities. 
Boroujerdi was scheduled to meet only with Australian MPs 
during his one-day visit to Canberra, including the Foreign 
Minister. 
 
2.  (C) We presented Ref B points on March 14 to David Mason, 
Arms Control Office Director, and Octavia Borthwick, Middle 
East Section Director.  They appreciated the information on 
U.S. efforts to support the EU-3 process with Iran as helpful 
background for Downer's meeting the following day.  Borthwick 
added that Downer would, as usual, raise human rights 
concerns with his Iranian interlocutor as well. 
 
3.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
STANTON