Cablegate: Nie On Iran: Nicaragua Supports Peaceful Use,

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM NU
SUBJECT: NIE ON IRAN: NICARAGUA SUPPORTS PEACEFUL USE,
QUESTIONS RESTRICTIONS ON MILITARY USE

REF: SECSTATE 162558 (NOTAL)

Classified By: CDA Richard Sanders, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)

1. (C) On December 4, we delivered the non-paper and talking
points per reftel to Director General for American Affairs,
Orlando Gomez; Director General for Asia, Africa and Oceana,
David McField, and Acting Director General for International
Organizations, Mario Barquero Baltodano at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MINREX). The text was also delivered to
Chief of Army Public Relations BG Zepeda who briefed
Nicaraguan Army Director of Intelligence Col Rodriguez.

2. (C) MINREX DG for America Orlando Gomez thanked us for the
notification, expressed appreciation for the detailed
findings of the NIE and promised to pass the information
along to the President's office. With respect to our request
that the Government of Nicaragua (GON) issue a public
statement calling for Iran to suspend its ongoing
nuclear-related activities and comply with its obligations
under UNSC resolutions, Gomez noted that President Ortega had
made numerous public statements "supporting Iran's desire to
develop a peaceful nuclear energy program," including most
recently, at the United Nations General Assembly in
September. NOTE: We note that Ortega's UNGA address did make
several statments supporting "the rights of any nation to
develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," Ortega also
questioned whether the international community's authority to
prevent nations from developing nuclear weapons capacity, if
they so chose. END NOTE.

3. (C) COMMENT: We are fairly certain that the NIE briefing
points reached Ortega, because he referred to the NIE
findings (and grossly misconstrued them) in a speech on
December 5.
SANDERS

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