Cablegate: Iranian Embassy Responds to Sunday Times Article

VZCZCXRO0734
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1390 2480806
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050806Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4721
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001390

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EMIN KGIT ETRD PREL PGOV IAEA CG IR
SUBJECT: IRANIAN EMBASSY RESPONDS TO SUNDAY TIMES ARTICLE

REF: KINSHASA 1309

1. (U) On August 28, the Congolese newspaper Le Potentiel
printed the Iranian Embassy's denial of the August 6 Sunday
Times article (reftel), which alleged a DRC-Iran uranium
smuggling link. The Times reported that in October 2005
Tanzanian authorities stopped a shipment of Uranium 238 ore
from the DRC's Katanga province that was destined for Iran.

2. (U) In publicly denouncing the allegations via a press
release, the Iranian Embassy in Kinshasa stated that it
"considers the publication of these allegations by the
Western media to constitute psychological pressure with the
goal of sullying the peaceful, non-military, nuclear
activities of Iran in the region. Thus, in recognizing its
right to enrich uranium for peaceful, non-military ends, the
Islamic Republic of Iran submits that the best solution
dwells only in the pursuit of dialog and negotiation, without
pressure or threat."

3. (U) The Iranian press statement also referenced the
uranium smuggling denials by the GOI's Supreme Council of
National Security on August 6 and the denouncements by the
GDRC on August 9 and the Governor of Katanga on August 16.

4. (U) An Agence France Presse article also reported an
official Iranian response to the allegations, citing the
GOI's statement that it does not need to import uranium
because it has its own mines and processing facility.
MEECE

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