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INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 6094
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0167
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3819
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 4000
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RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1543
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0052
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RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0050
RUEHEE/GCC COLLECTIVE
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 002994 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ISN AND NEA 
ENERGY ALSO FOR NNSA 
 
E.O. 12958:  10/13/2018 
TAGS: ENRG PARM TRGY PREL JO
SUBJECT:  GOJ Officials Confirm to ISN PDAS Jordan's Commitment to 
Nonproliferation Measures 
 
Ref: Amman 2770 
 
Classified by:  Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d) 
 
¶1.  (S/NF) Summary: International Security and Nonproliferation PDAS 
Patricia McNerney, during her October 13-14 visit to Jordan, 
discussed Iran, the full range of nonproliferation issues, and 
bilateral cooperation with Government of Jordan (GOJ) officials 
including Foreign Minister Salah Al-Bashir, Minister of Industry and 
Trade Amer Hadidi, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Khaldoun 
Qteishat, and Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Dr. 
Khaled Toukan.  GOJ counterparts shared U.S. views on the threats 
posed by Iran, including its nuclear aspirations, and expressed 
concern about a lack of Arab consensus on dealing with the Persian 
Gulf neighbor.  They confirmed their commitment to 
counterproliferation, agreed that a strategic trade and export 
control law could serve as a barrier to Iran and others illicitly 
obtaining material and equipment for their nuclear programs.  They 
confirmed such a law had been drafted, but commented that 
parliamentary passage required careful coordination.  The officials 
further encouraged expedited interagency review of the 123 Agreement, 
asserting Jordan would abide by all international nuclear agreements 
and only seek partners from responsible countries.  Bashir welcomed 
the idea for a bilateral Counterproliferation Task Force (CTF) dialog 
and promised to comment on the U.S. proposal.  The GOJ officials also 
reported the cabinet had approved the Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU) needed to launch the Megaports initiative and looked forward to 
a November signing ceremony.  End Summary. 
 
Jordan Committed to Countering Iranian Threat 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (S/NF) Across meetings, McNerney and GOJ officials discussed the 
threats posed by Iran's continued nuclear aspirations and the 
importance of compliance with United Nations Security Council 
Resolutions (UNSCR) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 
engagement in light of a recent IAEA assessment that Iran could 
produce sufficient enriched uranium for a nuclear explosive by 2010. 
With oil prices dropping, McNerney reported Iran is more likely to 
attempt to circumvent UNSCRs and abuse the international financial 
community to meet its needs.  Strong domestic export controls, border 
security, and cooperation through the Proliferation Security 
Initiative (PSI) and Global Initiative (GI) are essential.  Foreign 
Minister Bashir agreed that Iran is a shared threat, and particularly 
dangerous for the Gulf countries.  He cited as challenges to 
maintaining pressure on Iran the lack of an Arab consensus (blaming 
Qatar and Oman), and a weak European position with regard to Iran's 
nuclear energy program and gas pipelines.  He voiced concern that an 
exclusive focus on Iran's nuclear program undervalued other Iranian 
threats in the Middle East.  He called for a peaceful solution to the 
Iranian problem and further said more pressure needed to be placed on 
Israel which he accused of contributing to the arms race.  McNerney 
countered the greatest threat was not Israel, but rather the 
resulting proliferation of nuclear weapons if Iran were not thwarted. 
 
Export Controls Key to Jordanian and Regional Security 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶3.  (C) McNerney advised Minister of Industry and Trade Hadidi that a 
strong strategic trade control law could be an effective barrier to 
Iran obtaining material for its nuclear program.  Such a law, she 
explained, is the basis of nonproliferation activities and with the 
U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement set to come into full force in 2010, 
continuing discussions on the 123 Agreement, and Jordan poised to 
begin uranium mining, it is essential that the necessary controls be 
in place to safeguard the transfer of nuclear and dual-use material 
and equipment.  She added that U.S. companies and investors looked 
for strong export controls and counseled that Jordan's law should be 
broad and flexible and include strong criminal penalties for export 
control violations, robust control lists, and allow for the 
implementation of the letter and spirit of the UNSCRs.  Hadidi 
responded that Jordan is very proactive with these issues and that an 
export control law had been drafted, but cautioned that parliament 
could be obstructionist so great care was needed both in when and how 
the law was presented.  Nevertheless, he asserted the law would 
"soon" be submitted to parliament and that the GOJ would share the 
 
AMMAN 00002994  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
draft with the U.S.  He welcomed McNerney's offer of expert advice 
and technical training for adopting and drafting regulations and 
training prosecutors and judges on handling export violation cases. 
McNerney also opined that Jordan needed a "border control team" to 
better manage issues related to WMD proliferation and the import and 
transshipment of dual-use items. 
 
Strengthening Bilateral Dialogs on Nuclear Issues 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4.  (S/NF) GOJ Officials expressed hope for "expedited progress" on 
the 123 Agreement currently under interagency review.  Atomic Energy 
Commissioner Toukan explained Jordan was preparing to offer tenders 
for site selection for a future nuclear reactor and having the 
agreement in place was important to the process, especially in 
obtaining U.S. technology.  McNerney said the U.S. was sympathetic to 
Jordan's energy needs, but that nonproliferation concerns required 
thoughtful consideration before the Agreement could be sent forward 
for presidential certification.  She emphasized the need for movement 
on adopting an export control law to protect nuclear and dual use 
material, equipment and technology and written assurances that Jordan 
would only engage in cooperation with parties to the Nuclear 
Nonproliferation Treaty.  She further urged caution in Jordan's 
development of uranium mining, citing Iranian interest in seeking new 
sources for yellow cake.  Toukan asserted Jordan will abide by all 
international and multilateral agreements on nuclear energy; is 
interested in building strategic relationships with P-5 powers and 
has no desire to consider bilateral cooperation with countries that 
are not party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty; and "will not 
jeopardize our long-term interests for short term gain." 
 
GOJ's International Approach to Address Energy Needs 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Toukan said part of Jordan's nuclear energy approach included 
consulting widely - U.S., France, Canada, Korea, and others - so as 
not to be held hostage by one country.  He explained the recently 
signed agreement with the French company Areva included long-range 
projects and the September MOU on uranium mining with China was in 
exchange for development projects (reftel).  Toukan added that 
Jordan's first two reactors would be for domestic needs, but that 
excess power could be sold to neighboring countries, including 
Israel.  Toukan also explained that in Jordan's uranium deal with 
Areva, it included the requirement that Areva guarantee supply of 
nuclear fuel (through an option to be exercised at Jordan's 
discretion) to Jordan's nuclear power program for as long as the 
uranium deal remains in effect. In a separate meeting, Energy 
Minister Qteishat said that a regional project might be necessary 
because the nuclear reactors they would be reviewing are large 
relative to Jordan's needs. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Commenting on the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), 
Toukan welcomed engagement, but looked for more traction on uranium 
banks and waste management.  He expressed concern that GNEP has yet 
to devise a mechanism for ensuring adequate fuel supplies for 
non-nuclear states at a fair price in a regulated and transparent 
manner. 
 
Counterproliferation Initiatives 
--------------------------------- 
¶7.  (C) Stressing the importance of international cooperation to 
nonproliferation efforts, McNerney praised Jordanian participation in 
PSI and GI. McNerney suggested that Jordan initiate a plan of work 
program in the Global Initiative and they agreed to try to work on 
this issue regionally with other interested countries, such as the 
UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.  She cited a successful bilateral CTF 
dialogue with the United Arab Emirates on counterproliferation and 
proposed to Bashir that the U.S. and Jordan establish a similar 
dialogue.  She noted that a CTF would provide a more focused forum to 
discuss legal and policy elements of counterproliferation and passed 
a proposal to Bashir. Bashir responded the GOJ appreciated the 
existing bilateral dialogue and would review the proposal for more 
focused discussions, but inquired whether the establishment of a CTF 
was part of the 123 Agreement process.  McNerney clarified that while 
it was not a requirement for the 123 Agreement, it would certainly 
demonstrate that Jordan takes its nonproliferation commitments 
seriously, which will be important when Congress considers the 123 
 
AMMAN 00002994  003 OF 003 
 
 
Agreement. 
 
Progress on Megaports 
--------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear 
Nonproliferation Will Tobey informed all GOJ representatives of USG 
interest in concluding the agreement necessary to launch the 
Megaports initiative to enhance radiation monitoring and detection at 
Jordanian ports of entry.  Hadidi reported the cabinet had approved 
the MOU and the GOJ welcomed both U.S. technical and financial 
assistance.  NOTE.  In a separate discussion, Jordan Nuclear 
Regulatory Commissioner Dr. Jamal Sharaf confirmed to EconCouns that 
the cabinet had approved the MOU, although he had not yet received 
written notification.  He said the GOJ hoped to sign the bilateral 
agreement in early November.  End Note.  Tobey also offered 
radiological response training which Hadidi generally welcomed, 
noting it was premature for Jordan to identify specific training 
needs. 
 
Cooperative Monitoring Center 
---------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) On October 14, McNerney visited the Cooperative Monitoring 
Center (CMC), a joint venture between Sandia National Laboratories 
and the Jordanian Royal Scientific Society (RSS).  The CMC staff 
briefed her on the variety of export control and border security 
related training that the CMC supports, including a successful recent 
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 workshop. 
Additionally, they noted that the CMC hosts Iraqi scientific scholars 
participating in the Iraqi Scientist Engagement Program (ISEP). 
McNerney inquired whether the CMC could support additional Iraqi 
scientists.  The CMC staff agreed to work to expand the numbers of 
scientists at the CMC and noted that physical space should not be an 
issue, as the scientists could use the broader facilities of the RSS. 
 McNerney responded positively.  CMC staff noted that getting 
Jordanian visas for visiting Iraqis is still an issue, although it is 
less of an issue that it had been.  Tobey noted that the CMC had 
hosted a lot of USG export control and border security training 
programs. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Website at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman 
 
Beecroft