Wikileaks - MCLXXXVII
178477 11/14/2008 21:26 08STATE121356 Secretary of State UNCLASSIFIED 08STATE115523 VZCZCXYZ0014 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #1356 3192136 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 142126Z NOV 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHVT/AMEMBASSY VALLETTA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS IMMEDIATE 0000 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW IMMEDIATE 0000 INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE UNCLAS STATE 121356
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM, PREL, EFIN, KNNP SUBJECT: REVOCATION OF IRAN,S U-TURN GENERAL LICENSE
REF: 08STATE115523
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
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SUMMARY/BACKGROUND
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2. (SBU) On November 6, 2008, the Department of the Treasury revoked Iran's "U-turn" general license in order to protect U.S. financial institutions individually, and the U.S. financial system as a whole, from the significant terrorist financing and proliferation risks posed by Iran. (Note: A "U-turn" general license allows States to process transactions through the U.S. financial system using third-country banks, thus obscuring the origin of the transaction. End Note.) On October 16, 2008, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued its fourth statement declaring that Iran continues to "pose a serious threat to the integrity of the international financial system" and called for countries worldwide to strengthen measures to protect their financial sectors from this threat. This Treasury action implements FATF's call to strengthen measures to protect the financial sector from the risks posed to the international financial system by Iran, as called for by FATF.
3. (SBU) This is a follow up cable to a previous demarche (Ref A) that requested host governments take action in response to the FATF statement. Posts are requested to notify host governments of this action by the U.S. to fulfill FATF's call by sharing the text of Treasury's press statement and fact sheet.
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OBJECTIVES/ACTION REQUEST
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4. (SBU) Posts should share the November 6, 2008 Treasury statement, which can be downloaded from the following link: http://treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1256.htm ; and the Treasury fact sheet, which can be downloaded from the following link: http://treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1258.htm . Posts may also want to refer host governments to the FATF's October 16, 2008 statement on Iran, which can be downloaded from www.fatf-gafi.org/dataoecd/25/17/41508956.pdf .
5. Action request: Posts should inquire whether host governments have announced their intention to or have already taken specific action to address the FATF statement on Iran (REFTEL).
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REPORTING DEADLINE
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6. (U) Post should report results by close of business within seven days of receipt of cable. Please slug replies for ISN, T, Treasury, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT, and INL. Please caption all replies SIPDIS.
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POINT OF CONTACT
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7. (U) Washington points of contact for follow-up information are Kevin McGeehan, ISN/CPI, (202) 647-5408, mcgeehankj@state.sgov.gov and Sonata Coulter, EEB/ESC, (202)647-5027, coultersn@state.gov.
8. (U) Department thanks Posts for their assistance. RICE
