US embassy cable - 05OTTAWA2748

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002748 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2015 
TAGS: KNNP, PARM, PREL, PHUM, CA, IR, IAEA 
SUBJECT: IRAN/IAEA: CANADA CALLS IN IRANIAN CHARGE 
D'AFFAIRES 
 
 
Classified By: Pol MC Brian Flora.  Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) In a September 12 meeting with Charge on another 
matter, Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) for International 
Security Policy Jim Wright took the opportunity to underline 
Canada's frustration with Iran and its snubbing of the IAEA. 
Wright reported that he had just called in the Iranian Charge 
to deliver a strongly-worded demarche expressing Canada's 
disappointment, and informing him that if Iran did not change 
its position at the September 19 Board of Governors meeting, 
Canada would support an effort to refer Iran's noncompliance 
to the UNSC.  Wright further noted that Foreign Minister 
Pettigrew would seek a meeting with his Iranian counterpart 
at the UN General Assembly to reinforce Canada's 
nonproliferation message and to raise human rights issues. 
 
2. (C) Wright said that he had emphasized Canada's strong 
support of EU-3 efforts to reach a long-term solution of 
concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program and that it was 
"very disappointed" that Iran had rejected the 
recommendations out of hand.  These recommendations would 
have resulted in satisfactory measures that would meet Iran's 
desire to expand international cooperation in the civilian 
nuclear field, Wright told his interlocutor.  He urged Iran 
to reconsider. 
 
3. (C) Canada was also concerned by Iran's unilateral 
decision to restart uranium conversion activities, Wright 
continued, in defiance of IAEA Board resolutions.  The GoC 
remained troubled by the nature of Iran's nuclear program, 
particularly its stated requirement for uranium conversion 
and enrichment facilities, given that Russia had made a 
long-term fuel supply commitment for the Bushehr reactor 
currently being constructed.  There was simply no credible 
reason, Wright continued, to justify why Iran has resumed 
conversion activities at this time, especially given its 
non-proliferation obligations under the NPT.  Iran's record 
of hiding key aspects of its nuclear program from 
international oversight raised serious doubts that the 
program was exclusively for peaceful purposes, Wright 
concluded, and the IAEA determination that Iran was not 
cooperating fully or transparently with its officials 
alarming. 
 
4. (C)  The Iranian Charge tried to argue that IAEA member 
governments are imposing a "double standard" on his country. 
In response, Wright said, he was read the litany of Canada's 
full compliance with all the bureaucratic hoops and 
regulations, contrasting the seriousness of Canada's 
commitment to nonproliferation obligations with Iran's 
decision to flout them.  Wright charged Iran with being hung 
up on its NPT rights while ignoring its obligations.  Iran's 
rhetoric, Wright concluded, was not working and its nuclear 
program made "no economic sense" whatsoever.  Canada, he 
warned, would urge the Board of Governors on September 19 to 
refer the issue to the UN Security Council. 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
DICKSON