Thursday, 22 January 2009, 01:05
S E C R E T STATE 005567
NOFORN
EO 12958
DECL: 01/24/2034
TAGS
PARM,
PREL,
ETTC,
MASS,
AE,
MU,
SA,
YM,
IR,
SU
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-
UP TO INFORMATION
REF: A. STATE 4162 B. STATE 3948 C. STATE 3521 D. STATE 2617 (NOTAL) E. STATE 2072 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Ann Ganzer, ISN/CATR Office Director, Reason 1.4 (b), (c), (d).
Summary
- Sudan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen alerted by US secretary of state to Iranian plan to transfer weapons to Sudan by cargo planes for shipment to Palestinian fighters in Gaza. Reminded of UN resolutions banning any traffic in lethal military equipment with Iran. Key passage highlighted in yellow.
- Read related article
1. (U) This is an action request to Embassies Abu Dhabi, Khartoum, Muscat, Riyadh, and Sanaa. Please deliver immediately. Please see paragraph 4.
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Background
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2. (S/ NF) Ref A asked Sudan to stop flights from Sudan which we believed are carrying lethal military equipment. Earlier Washington advised Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Yemen in Ref B with updated information that additional flights may be planned for , which we are concerned could also be used to transfer arms from Iran to Sudan. Ref C advised that Washington had received information that the UAE firm requested overflight permission from the Civil Aviation Authority in Yemen for to conduct flights on between Iran and Sudan. Ref D advised Egyptian authorities that may be involved in the transfer of arms to Hamas. Ref E informed that Iran intended to conduct arms shipments to Hamas via Sudan and that the arms were expected to be transferred via aerial routes using cargo planes.
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Objectives
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3. (S/ NF) Posts should seek to:
-- Inform host governments of this new information regarding flights and that we have reason to believe the flight will be transporting lethal military equipment.
-- Inform the host government additional flights may be planned for .
-- Ask host nation to stop the flights.
-- Ask to be provided information that is regularly required for overflight requests.
-- Emphasize that UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1747, paragraph 5, states Iran shall not supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly any arms of related materiel, whether or not originating in Iran.
-- Stress to Sudan the United States considers this activity exceptionally concerning, particularly as our two countries are working together towards critical issues of UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) deployment, resolution of the situation in Darfur, and implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
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Action Request
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4. (S) Posts are requested to immediately approach host governments to inform them of the flights and request their assistance to stop the flights, in Sudan's case, or deny overflight or require the planes to land for inspection.
Begin Talking Points:
SECRET/REL SUDAN
-- We have information that, as of cargo flights were operating between Iran and Sudan.
-- FM Alor stated that he strongly supported stopping these flights. We appreciate FM Alor's concern regarding these flights and would like to follow-up with additional information.
--
-- We have additional information that a Sudanese official, having failed to receive overflight permission for has approached a second company to attempt the transfer.
-- Additional flights may be planned for .
-- We continue to believe these flights are transporting lethal military equipment.
-- As you are aware, there is information that is regularly required for overflight requests. We would like to know what information was provided to you. The regularly required info is: Flight purpose, aircraft operator, type, registration, nationality, type and amount of cargo, origin, destination, date/time, entry/departure points.
-- We continue to urge you to maintain vigilance to these flights.
-- UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1747, para. 5 states that Iran shall not supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly any arms or related materiel, whether or not originating in Iran.
-- Any supply or transfer outside Iran of arms and related materiel violates Iran's obligations under UNSCR 1747.
-- The United States considers this activity exceptionally concerning, particularly as our two countries are working together towards critical issues of UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) deployment, resolution of the situation in Darfur, and implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
-- In the spirit of this resolution, we request you deny overflight permission for these flights or request that the aircraft land for inspection as a condition for overflight permission.
SECRET/REL UAE, YEMEN, OMAN, AND SAUDI ARABIA
-- We appreciate any assistance you can provide regarding the military-related flights between Iran and Sudan that operated on and request that you remain vigilant on denying additional flights.
-- We have information that a Sudanese official, having failed to receive overflight permission for flights, has approached a Sudanese company to attempt th transfer.
-- Additional flight may be planned for .
-- As you are aware, there is information that is regularly required for overflight requests. We would like to know what information was provided to you. The regularly required info is: Flight purpose, aircraft operator, type, registration, nationality, type and amount of cargo, origin, destination, date/time, entry/departure points.
-- Additionally, all overflights require fees to be paid. Countries can deny overflight permissions because overflight- or other flight-related fees by the parties involved with operating th flights are in arrears. We request that you look into this avenue as an additional means to refuse future overflights.
-- UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1747, para. 5 states that Iran shall not supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly any arms or related materiel, whether or not originating in Iran.
-- Any supply or transfer outside Iran of arms and related materiel violates Iran's obligations under UNSCR 1747.
-- In the spirit of this resolution, we request you deny overflight permission for these flights or request that the aircraft land for inspection as a condition for overflight permission.
SECRET/REL UAE ONLY
-- According to the
End Talking Points
CLINTON