O 310653Z JAN 09 ZFF4
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA NIACT IMMEDIATE 
INFO AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 
AMCONSUL JERUSALEM IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY MUSCAT IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY RIYADH IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY SANAA IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T STATE 008952 
 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2034 
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MASS IR SU AE YM CD
SUBJECT: (S) POSSIBLE IRANIAN ARMS SHIPMENTS 
 
REF: STATE 8319 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified by: ISN Office Director A. Ganzer, Reasons 
1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (U) NIACT precedence is justified by urgent operational 
information.  Cable should be transmitted at OOB. 
 
¶2. (U) This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 5. 
 
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Background 
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¶3. (S/NF) Washington has been working with several 
governments to prevent Iranian air shipment of weapons to 
Hamas via Sudan.  Our initial information indicated that 
Iran may ship weapons to Sudan via aerial routes using 
cargo planes (possibly using Sudanese airlines), but more 
recent information indicates that Iran may now use various 
airlines.  This information now also indicates that there 
may be a connection with Chad.  In light of this 
information, we would like to approach the Government of 
Chad to alert it to the possibility of Chad being used as 
a potential route for arms to be sent, ultimately, to 
Hamas. 
 
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Objectives 
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¶4. (S/NF) Post should seek to: 
 
--Inform the host government that Iran intends to deliver 
lethal military equipment to Sudan in the near future. 
 
--Inform the host government that cargo flights 
originating from Iran are expected to depart this weekend 
or early next week. 
 
--Ask the host nation to exercise extreme vigilance on any 
cargo flights originating in Iran and possibly deny 
landing permission. 
 
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Action Request 
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¶5. (S) Post is requested as soon as feasible, bearing in 
mind the timeframe of the information, to use the points 
below to approach appropriate host government officials to 
inform them of the flights and to deny overflight 
permission. 
 
(SECRET/REL CHAD) Begin Talking Points: 
 
--Iran intends to deliver arms to Sudan in the near future 
using cargo flights of various airlines (not necessarily 
of Iranian companies), most likely in order to transfer 
them to Hamas. 
 
--These flights are expect to depart from Iran to Sudan 
this weekend or in the beginning of next week. 
 
--The Iranians may attempt to dissimulate the type of 
cargo loaded on the flights, their destination, and route. 
 
--UN Security Council resolution 1747, paragraph 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 view of the above, we want to provide you with this 
information in an effort to assist you in ensuring that 
Iran does not make use of your territory to transfer items 
proscribed by UN Security Council resolution 1747. 
 
--We ask that you take any steps possible to prevent these 
shipments, including denying landing permission. 
 
End Talking Points 
 
¶6. (U) Department appreciates Post's assistance in this 
matter.  ISN/CATR POC is Margaret T. Mitchell, 
(mitchellmt2@state.sgov.gov; 202-647-2433). 
 
 
CLINTON