Cablegate: Portugal "On the Same Line" As the U.S. On Iran

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STATE DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/RA RICHARD NEPHEW

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IR KNNP MNUC PARM PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL "ON THE SAME LINE" AS THE U.S. ON IRAN
NUCLEAR PROGRAM

REF: STATE 100153

(SBU) Poleconoff delivered reftel points on September 28 to
Joao Neves da Costa, Portugal's MFA Director for Middle East
and Maghreb Affairs, and Pedro Carmona, special assistant in
the MFA's Office of Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Neves da Costa asserted that the GOP was "on the same line"
as the U.S. regarding Iran's nuclear program but would await
the outcome of the October 1 meeting before taking any
action. Noting that Portugal had just held parliamentary
elections September 27, he commented that the Foreign
Minister could be replaced, resulting in the GOP not having a
formal position on Iran for some time. Nonetheless, Neves da
Costa observed that the EU was developing a "package of
sanctions" against Iran and the GOP would fully support them.

For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal,
please see our Intelink site:

http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal
BALLARD

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