US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1682

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001682 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KNNP, PARM, IR, IS, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: IVANOV TELLS ISRAELIS THAT RUSSIAN FUEL DELIVERY 
TO IRAN COULD BE AS EARLY AS END OF 2005 
 
REF: 04 TEL AVIV 6554 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer; Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1. (C) According to Israeli officials, Russian National 
Security Adviser Igor Ivanov and MINATOM staff told the GOI 
on March 15 that Russian fuel could be delivered to Bushehr 
"as early as the end of 2005," although the Russians noted 
that a more likely date would be June 2006.  Ariel "Eli" 
Levite, the deputy director of the Israel Atomic Energy 
Commission (IAEC), expressed concern to a visiting NSG 
delegation that the Russians had previously said that June 
2006 would be the earliest possible delivery date (reftel). 
 
2. (C) Levite told the NSG delegation, which included a DOE 
official, that the Russians had both "good news and bad news" 
during a March 15 discussion on the Iranian nuclear program. 
On the positive side, Levite said, the Russians insisted that 
obtaining guarantees on fuel deliveries and return of spent 
fuel are "major issues" for Moscow.  He also described the 
Russians as generally helpful on the Iranian issue. 
 
3. (C) On the negative side, Levite claimed that the Russians 
were reluctant to admit that Iran is a real problem.  He 
called Russian rhetoric during the visit a "step backwards," 
complaining that they used phrases such as "if they are found 
to have a weapons program" when discussing Iranian issues. 
Levite said that the Russians had made clear that they would 
only consider supporting a move to take Iran to the UNSC if 
there is first a clear suspension agreement that Iran 
abrogates.  He noted that the Russians also claimed that they 
are "heavily dependent" on the Islamic world, including Iran, 
for assistance in dealing with Chechnya.  In addition, the 
Russians told Levite that they do not believe they have "an 
equally effective relationship" with the international 
community on nonproliferation issues, noting that the EU-3 is 
leading on Iran, the U.S. and UK in Libya, and China in North 
Korea.  Levite stressed to the NSG delegation that the 
Russians have historically been proud of their 
non-proliferation efforts, but now feel that they are not 
being recognized as a leading participant in addressing 
current issues. 
 
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KURTZER