US embassy cable - 03ROME1605

S E C R E T ROME 001605 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME 
 
FOR NP/CBM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2013 
TAGS: KSCA, PARM, PREL, ETTC, IT, IR, UK, MTCRE, EXPORT CONTROLS 
SUBJECT: MTAG 05-96: GOI HALTS MISSILE-RELATED TRANSFER 
BETWEEN ITALIAN FIRM AND IRAN (S) 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 94815 
         B. ROME 1566 
     C. ROME 1502 
     D. 02 STATE 35257 
     E. 02 STATE 13875 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: A/ECMIN DAVID MULENEX REASONS 1.5 (D) AND (E) 
 
1. (S) ECONOFFS MET APRIL 15 WITH GIANPAOLO SCARANTE, DEPUTY 
DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR TO PM BERLUSCONI, TO RAISE CONTINUED 
SERIOUS USG CONCERNS REGARDING THE EXPORT OF CLIMATIC 
CHAMBERS FROM ITALY'S MAZZALI SYSTEMS TO IRAN'S SAFETY 
EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT INCORPORATED (REF A).  SCARANTE WAS 
VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE, HAVING RECEIVED UK EMBASSY 
OFFICIALS TWICE LAST WEEK ON THE CASE (REFS B AND C), TO WHOM 
HE HAD CONFIRMED THE GOI'S ISSUANCE OF AN EXPORT LICENSE. 
SCARANTE TOLD US TODAY THAT ITALIAN CUSTOMS OFFICIALS HAD 
HALTED THE SHIPMENT APRIL 14.  HE FURTHER CONFIRMED THAT THE 
GOI NOW IS CONSIDERING THE POSSIBLE REVOCATION OF THE EXPORT 
LICENSE. WE THANKED SCARANTE FOR THE GOI ACTIONS, AND ASKED 
THAT WE BE INFORMED OF ANY DEVELOPMENTS. 
 
2. (S) WE ALSO PROVIDED REF A POINTS TO THE DIPLOMATIC 
ADVISOR TO MINISTER OF PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES MARZANO (MARZANO 
APPROVES EXPORT LICENSES, AND PRESUMABLY WILL BE THE OFFICIAL 
TO APPROVE ANY REVOCATION), AND HAVE REQUESTED A FOLLOW-UP 
MEETING TO SEEK ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON THE REVOCATION 
PROCEDURE.  WE ARE PROVIDING THE INFORMATION IN REFS D AND E 
TO ALL RELEVANT GOI OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO BOLSTER THE CASE 
FOR REVOCATION. SCARANTE INDICATED THAT THE GOI MIGHT REQUEST 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM US TO FURTHER SUPPORT A 
REVOCATION DECISION. 

3. (S) EMBASSY WILL ALSO RAISE OUR CONCERNS WITH MFA DIRECTOR 
GENERAL FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION GIANDOMENICO MAGLIANO LATE 
IN THE DAY APRIL 15, EXPRESSING OUR THANKS FOR FREEZING THE 
SHIPMENT, AND ASKING FOR DETAILS ON THE REVOCATION PROCEDURE. 
SEMBLER 
 
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 2003ROME01605 - Classification: SECRET