US embassy cable - 05PARIS6124

S E C R E T PARIS 006124 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EC/ECNP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2015 
TAGS: FR, IR, ETTC, PARM, PREL, Non-Proliferation 
SUBJECT: POTENTIAL UAV/CRUISE MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER 
TO IRAN (S) 
 
REF: SECSTATE 164496 
 
Classified By: ESTH COUNSELOR ROBERT W. DRY FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) & (D) 
 
1.  (S)  On September 8, ESTH Counselor provided French MTCR 
point-of-contact David Bertolotti in the disarmament and 
nonproliferation division of the MFA with points contained 
reftel.  (Although reftel request is not described as falling 
with the MTCR itself, since it involves technology possibly 
associated with UAVs or cruise missiles, Berlotti was thought 
to be the best point of entry for passing this information to 
the GOF.) 
 
2.  (S)  Bertolotti read the points and expressed surprise 
that French firm Helices Halter might be involved in a 
transfer of sensitive technology to Iran, noting the company 
was a world leader in the production of a certain propulsion 
component.  He asked whether foreign ministries in Italy and 
the Netherlands were also being asked by the U.S. to 
investigate transactions related to their national companies 
and was told they were.  In any event, he said he would 
immediately forward the points about Helices Halter to French 
security authorities for investigation. 
STAPLETON