Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12439 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AORC AMGT APER AU AF AS ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AFIN AR AE AMED AEMR AJ ADANA AG ATRN ADPM APECO AGAO AX AM AL ADCO AA AECL AADP ABUD AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM ARF AC AQ ATFN ACOA ADM AUC AGMT AMBASSADOR AMG ACABQ ASEX AFU AER ALOW AZ APCS AVERY AN AGRICULTURE AORL ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AMCHAMS AIT ACS
BR BA BD BL BTIO BO BF BU BEXP BX BILAT BRUSSELS BK BN BM BT BY BIDEN BG BH BB BE BP BC BBSR BTIU BWC BMGT
CH CY CA CU CS CO CVIS CPAS CMGT CE COUNTER CASC CR COUNTRY CJAN COUNTERTERRORISM CBW CNARC CG CI CWC CB CD CDC CIDA CJUS CDG CBSA CEUDA CM CLMT CAC CODEL COPUOS CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CIA CTM CVR CF CLINTON CSW CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACM CDB CACS CBC CARICOM CAN CONDOLEEZZA CV CITT COM CKGR CARSON CROS CAPC CTR CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DEA DTRA DA DJ DPRK DEPT DO DOMESTIC DAO DCM DE DK DEAX DOE DS DEFENSE DISENGAGEMENT DOD
ECON EFIN ELAB ETRD EIND EC EINV EAGR ENRG ETTC EAID EPET ELTN EWWT EAIR EFIS EMIN EG EU ER EUN EPA ENVI EXTERNAL ECPS ENGR ETRC ECIN EN ES ELN ET EI EFINECONCS EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EZ ETRO EDU ETRN EFIM EFTA EAIG EK EUREM EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ERD ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL ENGY EAIDS ENERG EINVEFIN EUC EINVETC EUMEM EINVECONSENVCSJA ESENV ETRA ECONEFIN ETC ECIP ENNP ERNG ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECINECONCS EXIM EEPET
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FDA FM FAO FAS FINR FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GM GV GOI GT GY GOV GL GAERC GH GG GA GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GANGS GERARD GLOBAL GAZA GTMO
HA HK HR HUMAN HO HU HILLARY HUMOR HI HURI HEBRON HSTC HYMPSK
IR IS IZ IAEA IO IAHRC ID IPR IC IT IRAQI IWC IN IRS IL ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN ICRC INTERPOL IQ IMO IBET INR ITRA INTERNAL ICJ INMARSAT ICTY IMF ILO INRA INRO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY IRC ITU IACI IBRD IIP IRAJ ILC INTELSAT IDA ICTR IA IZPREL IGAD IF IEFIN IDP ITF ISRAEL
JA JUS JP JO JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KN KCRM KOMC KNNPMNUC KIPR KPAL KWBG KSCA KFRD KNNP KUNR KTIP KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KISL KPAO KMDR KJUS KDEM KS KSTH KCOR KIRF KAWC KU KTFN KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KPRP KTDB KZ KFLO KBIO KGHG KTIA KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KE KOCI KPKO KHDP KIFR KCIP KDRG KRVC KVPR KV KMPI KCFC KIDE KICC KSUM KGIT KCFE KG KBTS KSEP KGIC KPAI KHSA KTLA KTEX KFSC KPLS KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KR KMOC KNAR KIRC KBCT KSPR KFIN KBTR KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KICA KVRP KCOM KO KLIG KPIN KAID KRAD KSCI KESS KDEV KVIR KCRS KTBT KCGC KNSD KOMS KRIM KMIG KTER KDDG KPRV KRFD KHUM KREC KWMNCS KSEC KPOA KWWMN KX KCMR KPWR KCHG KRGY KPAK KWMM KRCM KWNM KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF KNUP
LY LE LO LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LABOR LT LU
MARR MOPS MASS MCAP MTCRE MNUC MIL MX MEDIA MEPP MA MR MO MASSMNUC MPOS MU ML MAR MP MY MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MT MI MOPPS MASC MTS MLS MILI MTRE MV MEPN MAPP MTCR MEPI MCC MZ MDC MEETINGS MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MRCRE MILITARY MC MIK MUCN
NATO NL NZ NPT NI NSF NE NU NG NAFTA NS NDP NIPP NP NPA NO NK NRR NSC NEW NH NR NA NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NSFO NSSP NASA NT NAR NGO NW NV NPG NORAD NATOPREL
OTRA OAS OPRC OIIP OVIP OREP OPDC OMIG OEXC OPIC OSCE OFFICIALS ODIP OFDP OECD OBSP OPCW OTR OSAC OSCI ON OIC OFDA OCII OES OPAD OIE OVP OHUM OCS
PREL PGOV PK PHUM PINS PARM PA PTER PINR PREF PHSA PBTS PBIO PO POL PE PARMS PM PGIV PROG PL PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PROP PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PAO PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PHUMPGOV PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PF POLINT PRAM PCUL PLN PAS PHUH POGOV PHUMPREL PRL PROV PHUMBA PEL PECON PSA PGGV PNR POV PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PREO PAHO PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RU REACTION REPORT REGION RW RP RIGHTS RO RCMP RF RM RFE RSP ROBERT RICE RIGHTSPOLMIL ROOD RELATIONS RUPREL RSO
SU SNAR SO SOCI SW SENV SMIG SCUL SP SZ SK SENVKGHG SR SY SNARN SA SI SN SPCVIS SL SYRIA SF SC SWE SARS SHUM STEINBERG SG SIPRS ST SEVN SIPDIS SSA SPCE SHI SNARIZ SH SOFA SAN SNARCS SEN SYR SAARC SANC SCRS
TRGY TBIO TU TF TERRORISM TI TSPL TPHY TH TIP TW TSPA TC TO TX TZ TNGD TT TL TV TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TFIN TP TAGS TK TR THPY
UNGA UN UK US UNC UNSC USUN USTR UG UP UY USEU UNESCO USPS UNMIK UZ UNHRC UNO UNAUS UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE USOAS UNFICYP UV UNDESCO UNEP UNDC UNCHC UNDP UNODC UNCND UNCHS UNIDROIT UNCSD UNICEF USNC UNPUOS UE
VT VE VTPREL VM VAT VZ VI VN VTIZ VC VTEG
WS WTRO WTO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WBG WHA WWARD WB WA WMO WITH WMD WIPO WHTI WEU
XA XF XM XL XW XV XB XU XR XY XS XG XT XH XE XK XX XD XI XTAG XQ XZ XC
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZP ZB ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZOELLICK ZN ZANU ZL ZA ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08MADRID836, IRAN FOCUS OF TREASURY UNDER SECRETARY LEVEY TRIP

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08MADRID836.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08MADRID836 | 2008-07-28 16:04 | 2010-12-12 12:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Madrid

`

    VZCZCXRO7860
    RR RUEHAG RUEHROV
    DE RUEHMD #0836/01 2101629
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 281629Z JUL 08
    FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
    TO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
    INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
    RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5174

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MADRID 000836

    SIPDIS

    TREASURY FOR CCLARK AND DFERNADEZ

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
    TAGS: ECON EFIN EINV ETRD KTFN PREL PARM PTER IR SP
    SUBJECT: IRAN FOCUS OF TREASURY UNDER SECRETARY LEVEY TRIP
    TO MADRID

    Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Hugo Llorens, reasons: 1.5 (b)
    and (d)

    ¶1. (C) Summary: Treasury Under Secretary Stuart A. Levey,
    accompanied by Chief of Staff Christy Clark and Policy
    Advisor DeAnna Fernandez, traveled to Madrid, Spain July
    15-17, 2008 to press for Spanish support for implementation
    of UNSCR 1803 per the EU-3 1 proposal and to provide
    information on the Iranian shipping line IRISL and on threats
    to the insurance industry. Spanish officials said they had
    no "substantive" objections with the EU-3 1 proposal,
    although they did not unequivocally commit to support
    implementation of the proposal prior to the August holidays.
    Spanish officials received the information U/S Levey provided
    on IRISL and insurance with great interest. The Under
    Secretary, together with Ambassador Aguirre, thanked a Repsol
    representative for the company decision not to pursue the
    South Pars Block 13 gas deal. U/S Levey also participated in
    an AmCham hosted lunch and engaged in press outreach. End
    Summary

    --------------------------------------------- -----
    UNDER SECRETARY LEVEY'S MESSAGE WITH GOS OFFICIALS

    --------------------------------------------- -----

    ¶2. (C) The Under Secretary stressed in all of his meetings
    the USG's commitment to a diplomatic solution to the Iranian
    nuclear issue, underscored by the decision to send Under
    Secretary Burns to participate in the Geneva meeting with
    Iran as one more indication of the USG's firm commitment to
    reach a diplomatic solution. In order to facilitate that
    solution, it was necessary to present Iran with a "stark"
    choice, either conform to UNSCR resolutions or face isolation
    and stronger economic sanctions. Levey emphasized that the
    EU's decision in June to designate Bank Melli was a strong
    action that sent an important signal that the EU was prepared
    to be firmer with Iran. This was why it was so necessary for
    Spain to support implementation of UNSCR 1803 per the EU-3 1
    proposal prior to the August vacation. The Under Secretary
    also provided information on the Iranian shipping line,
    IRISL. He said that in 2007, IRISL ships had been
    interdicted, and that in several instances, the ships had
    been carrying prohibited items to Iran. IRISL had also
    engaged in deceptive practices involving, among other things,
    the falsification of shipping documents and operating through
    a company called Seibow Limited. Additionally, Levey noted
    that UNSCR 1737 requires measures to prevent the provision of
    financial services related to the transfer of prohibited
    items to Iran. There had been a great deal of success in
    convincing the banking sector to be extremely vigilant in
    dealing with Iran. The U.S. now wants to expand vigilance to
    the insurance industry as well. The Under Secretary also
    raised questions regarding the possible collaboration between
    Iran and a Libyan-owned bank.

    -----------------------------------
    MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MEETING
    -----------------------------------

    ¶3. (C) The Under Secretary met with International Economic
    Relations and Energy Affairs Director General Rafael Conde de
    Saro and two staff members. The MFA officials said that
    Spain has no "substantive" problems with the EU-3 1 UNSCR
    1803 implementation proposal, but it was not clear whether
    Spain would support implementation of the proposal prior to
    the August holidays. The MFA officials added that perhaps
    other EU members might have problems with the substance
    and/or timing. Levey indicated that there was a very clear
    reduction of Iranian activity in Spain deriving from various
    sanctions adopted at different levels. Spain had been
    scrupulous in its application of sanctions. De Saro and his
    staff received the Under Secretary's information on IRISL and
    insurance with interest. Conde indicated that he was not
    aware of any Spanish operations with IRISL or of Spanish
    insurance for IRISL, but that the appropriate Spanish
    authorities would be informed.

    ---------------------------------
    MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND
    TRADE MEETING
    ---------------------------------

    ¶4. (C) U/S Levey met with Ministry of Industry, Tourism and
    Trade Secretary General for Foreign Trade Alfredo Bonet and
    staff. Bonet expressed support for vigilance and caution
    with respect to transactions with Iran. He said that Repsol
    had made a "tough decision" not to pursue the South Pars

    MADRID 00000836 002 OF 003

    deal. With respect to export credits, a staff member said
    that Spain was "freezing" export credit levels to Iran.
    Responding to U/S Levey' questions regarding what a "freeze"
    means, the official said that it meant capping export credit
    levels to Iran. New deals can be approved, although the
    staff member said that export credit transactions with Iran
    were decreasing because it was difficult to find a bank
    willing to finance the deal. Bonet received the information
    U/S Levey provided with respect to IRISL and insurance with a
    great deal of interest. He said that recently, the ministry
    had imposed new information requirements for companies
    seeking to export possible dual use items. Now, the firms
    have to specify the means of transportation (including the
    identity of the shipping company) and for information on
    transit countries. For shipments to Iran, it was common
    practice to have the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI -
    Spain's main intelligence organization) check the end user
    and middlemen links for some operations, often delaying them
    for up to a month. If there is a potential risk or doubt
    about the information Iran provides, the Ministry requests
    further information or denies the operation. Ministry staff
    also noted that Spanish banks have closed representative
    offices in Iran.

    -------------------
    MEETING WITH REPSOL
    -------------------

    ¶5. (C) Ambassador Aguirre and Under Secretary Levey thanked
    Repsol YPF General Counselor and Secretary to the Board Luis
    Suarez de Lezo for Repsol's decision not to go ahead with the
    South Pars Block 13 deal. Suarez said that Repsol's decision
    had been a "cruel" one. However, Spain was "sensitive" to
    the problem of terrorism. Suarez said that the company had
    delayed making a decision for as long as possible, and that
    it still has hopes for business in Iran once the nuclear
    issue is dealt with. Suarez said that, so far, Repsol had
    not been lucky in developing business in Iraq, mostly because
    the competition from bigger rivals was too tough. However,
    Repsol had been very successful in making new discoveries in
    Brazil and Libya.

    ------------------------------------
    MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
    ------------------------------------

    ¶6. (C) U/S Levey and DCM met with Economy Ministry Secretary
    of State David Vegara and staff. The U/S stressed the
    importance of Spain supporting the EU-3 1 UNSCR
    implementation proposal. One Vegara staff member suggested
    that Spain was already largely implementing the proposal
    through increased banking vigilance, but Levey pointed out
    that the EU-3 1 proposal contained other important elements
    as well. The staff member said that Spain was working with
    the U.S. within the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to
    develop guidance on how to implement UNSCR 1803 (including on
    "counter-measures"), and U/S Levey thanked him for that
    support. Vegara said that Spain was on the right side of
    this issue, and on the matter of containing export credit
    operations, Spain had reduced export credits by 30 percent.
    The Secretary of State expressed a great deal of interest in
    the IRISL and insurance information provided by U/S Levey.
    Vegara noted, however, that while Spain has large banks, it
    does not have large insurance companies, so he doubted that
    they were involved in insuring cargo destined for Iran, but
    the government would look into it. Secretary of State Vegara
    underscored that Spain was committed to the Iran financial
    sanctions issue, but that Spain had to coordinate with other
    EU members. He expressed a great deal of interest in Under
    Secretary Burns' meeting with Iranian officials. DCM
    emphasized in this context the need for the international
    community to continue to make clear the "stark" choice that
    Iran faces precisely in order to give diplomacy a better
    chance to work. There was also a discussion of the risk
    posed by possible collusion between Libyan-owned banks and
    Iran. Vegara and his staff indicated that there was only one
    such bank in Spain and they would look into the matter.

    -----------------------------
    MEETING WITH THE CENTRAL BANK
    -----------------------------

    ¶7. (C) U/S Levey and DCM met with Deputy Governor Jose Vinals
    and staff. He too demonstrated great interest in the
    material the U/S provided. Vinals agreed with Levey that
    Spanish banks were increasingly unwilling to take any risks
    with respect to Iran. He said that Banks Santander and
    Sabadell had ceased Iran-related operations, and that, as far
    as he knew, Spanish banks had closed their representation

    MADRID 00000836 003 OF 003

    offices in Iran. When Levey raised concerns about the risk
    posed by possible collusion between Libyan-owned banks and
    Iran, Vinals and his staff also indicated that there was only
    one Libyan-owned bank in Spain, Aresbank. They noted that
    while Aresbank was Libyan-owned, it was managed by Spanish
    officials. They indicated that the majority of Aresbank's
    business was financing equipment and transport to Libya,
    which was necessary since roughly 30 percent of Spain's oil
    imports come from Libya. Vinals, nonetheless , noted that
    any Libyan-owned bank merited extra scruitiny.

    -------
    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶8. (C) Under Secretary Levey's trip was very timely given the
    upcoming EU decision on the EU-3 1 UNSCR 1803 implementation
    proposal. We do not know whether Spain will support
    implementation prior to the summer holidays. However,
    although the Spaniards, especially the Ministry of Foreign
    Affairs, played the perennial Brussels-Member State dance,
    i.e. suggesting that others might be to blame for an outcome
    not desired by the USG, we think the GOS understands that we
    are monitoring Spain's stance on this issue very carefully.

    ¶9. (U) Under Secretary Levey has cleared this message.

    Aguirre

`