VZCZCXRO8145
PP RUEHPT
DE RUEHBY #1043 3290933
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 250933Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2349
INFO RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 5064
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE 6798
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 5066

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001043 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/FO ELISA CATALANO; ISN/RA RICHARD NEPHEW 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019 
TAGS: PREL IR AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA AGREES WITH U.S. POSTURE ON IRAN'S 
NUCLEAR PROGRAM 
 
REF: STATE 120288 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Edgard D. Kagan for reasons 1.4 (b) a 
nd (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  Australia is in complete agreement with the 
P5 1 two track approach to Iran's nuclear program.  It has 
lobbied for this approach at APEC and the East Asian Summit 
and has made its views clear to Iran.  When there is a need 
for further sanctions because of Iranian refusal of IAEA and 
P5 1 proposals, Australia is ready to increase its pressure. 
End summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) Jenny Bloomfield, Director of the Middle East Section 
of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
(DFAT), emphasized on November 23 strong Australian support 
for the P5 1's two track approach of negotiation or sanctions 
with Iran.  Australia is ready to change tracks if and when 
its partners on the IAEA's Board of Governors deem it 
necessary.  She said DFAT briefed the Prime Minister and 
Foreign Minister on the Iran nuclear issue before the East 
Asia Summit and APEC, and at their  respective meetings, PM 
Rudd and FM Smith shared and lobbied for that approach with 
their counterparts.  Australia also regularly shares its 
views on the importance of IAEA and P5 1 positions with 
Iranian officials, both here in Canberra and in Tehran. 
 
¶3.  (C) Bloomfield said that Australia is currently exploring 
ways of increasing pressure on Iran by further tightening 
existing regulations and by pursuing further sanctions if 
Iran refuses to accept the offers on the table from the IAEA, 
France, Russia and the United States.  Presently, Australia 
imposes all Security Council sanctions on Iranian individuals 
and entities having verifiable connections with Iranian WMD 
programs.  It also has imposed mirrored sanctions to those of 
the EU since October 2008.  These are more flexible and can 
be imposed on individuals and entities without the same 
burden of proof required by the UN Security Council.  As 
negotiations continue with Iran on its future nuclear 
programs, Australia is open to all options required by the 
second track if there is no negotiated solution. 
 
¶4.  (C) DFAT's Bloomfield said Australia stands ready to work 
with the United States and its partners on either track of 
the present policy with Iran because the government wants the 
same outcome -- an Iran without nuclear weaponry. 
BLEICH