US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS2247

S E C R E T ALGIERS 002247 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2010 
TAGS: KNNP, PARM, PREL, AORC, IR, EU, AG, Algerian Views on Iran 
SUBJECT: IRAN RELATED BRIEFING 
 
REF: SECSTATE 202164 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman: Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
SUBJECT:  IRAN RELATED BRIEFING 
 
1. (S) Ambassador called on Energy Minister Chakib Khelil 
November 7 to deliver reftel talking points and introduce 
SIMO, who presented a sensitive briefing on Iranian nuclear 
weaponization efforts. (Reaction to the SIMO brief will be 
reported in separate channels.)  Khelil heads Algeria's 
interministerial committee that has responsibility for both 
domestic and international nuclear issues and represents 
Algeria at IAEA board meetings in Vienna.  Accompanying 
Khelil were the Energy Ministry's Director of External 
Relations, Mohamed Bouamama, a member of FM Bedjaoui's 
cabinet, Ali Redjel, and an unidentified note-taker. 
Ambassador has requested a meeting early next week with MFA 
Secretary General Lamamra to provide a similar briefing, 
 
SIPDIS 
following the latter's return to the country. 
 
2. (S) Ambassador prefaced the briefing by noting that we 
would be offering a similar briefing to SYG Lamamra early 
next week following his return from abroad.  However, in view 
of the seriousness of the issue, the Minister's IAEA 
responsibilities, and the IAEA board meeting later this 
month, we wanted to share thoughts and information on Iran's 
nuclear weapons directly and without delay.  Ambassador 
reviewed reftel points in some detail, stressing that Iran's 
pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability under the guise of a 
civilian nuclear energy program posed a growing threat to 
international peace and stability.  Achieving a diplomatic 
solution and securing full Iranian cooperation in ending all 
elements of its nuclear weapons program required the 
international community to stand together in pressing Iran to 
do the right thing.  The Iranian President's recent comments 
calling for the destruction of the state of Israel 
underscored why the international community could not accept 
a nuclear weapons-capable Iran. 
 
3. (S) Khelil expressed appreciation for the briefing, said 
he would brief the senior leadership, and assured that 
Algeria took this issue seriously.  Recalling faulty 
intelligence concerning Iraq, Khelil said it would be 
important to be certain of the credibility and authenticity 
of the information on which the briefing was based.  Khelil 
also noted that Iran recently had invited IAEA inspectors to 
visit military sites.  Ambassador noted the pattern of 
deceptive Iranian behavior over the past two decades 
concerning its nuclear program, the IAEA's conclusions that 
Iran had not cooperated fully, and the fact that Iran's 
pursuit of full fuel cycle capability made no sense except in 
the context of a nuclear weapons program. As for Iran's 
reported offer of cooperation, Ambassador said he was not 
briefed on the latest state of play but that, if true, it 
underscored the need to keep the pressure on Iran to 
cooperate by maintaining a strong international consensus. 
At the end of the discussion, Ambassador left a non-paper 
with reftel talking points, along with an informal Embassy 
French translation, and noted we were sharing this sensitive 
briefing with only a small group of friends, the EU-3 and el 
Baradei. 
 
ERDMAN