US embassy cable - 05CAIRO8877

S E C R E T CAIRO 008877 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2015 
TAGS: KNNP, PARM, PREL, IR, EG, AORC 
SUBJECT: IAEA DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO EGYPT 
 
REF: STATE 202164 
 
Classified by ECPO MinCouns Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4(b) 
and (d). 
 
1. (S/NF) Following coordination through liaison channels and 
in the absence of the Deputy Foreign Minister and the 
Assistant Minister for Multilateral affairs, ECPO Minister 
Counselor and RMAS Deputy and briefer presented reftel 
demarche and associated briefing to Deputy assistant minister 
for Disarmament affairs Dr. Hosam Aly on November 23.  Dr. 
Aly was joined by a notetaker. 
 
2. (S/NF) ECPO MinCouns provided the context for the demarche 
noting the upcoming IAEA board meeting in Vienna and 
emphasized the threat posed by Iran's pursuit of a nuclear 
weapons capability.  In response to RMAS representatives 
presentation of the intelligence briefing, Aly understood 
that this was the extent of the information we were sharing 
but said it would be most useful to have the USG assessment 
of where Iranian nuclear weapons development stood today, and 
whether, for instance the U.S. had evidence that Iran had a 
weapons testing facility.  Expressing his appreciation for 
the briefing, Aly said he would present the information he 
had received to the Foreign Minister the next day. 
 
3. (S)  In response to a question on Egypt's position at the 
IAEA, Aly said that Egypt was clearly worried about Iranian 
moves to acquire nuclear weapons.  However, he noted, Egypt's 
views on regional application of the NPT were clear and that 
this position posed some difficulties in the case of Iran. 
In response to a reminder of the immediate threat, Aly 
quickly acknowledged that Iran was a particularly worrisome 
case.  If Iran acquired nuclear weapons it would be a 
"unbearable" with "significant consequences," he opined.  He 
said that Egypt's concern at the upcoming board meeting was 
to avoid a situation where the members publicly differed over 
how to press Iran on this issue.  Aly said Egypt believed 
either a negotiated Chairman's statement or a Chairman's 
conclusion might represent a means to avoid any disagreement 
on pressing Iran.  While musing that Iran might be given more 
time, Aly acknowledged clearly that Iran must not be allowed 
to draw out its failure to comply with its NPT requirements. 
Aly concluded by noting that the Egyptian mission in Vienna 
would coordinate with the U.S. mission. 
 
 
RICCIARDONE