SULTAN SENDS ENVOY TO NEW IRANIAN PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001304 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI, NP/MNA E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2015 TAGS: PREL KNNP MNUC IR MU SUBJECT: SULTAN SENDS ENVOY TO NEW IRANIAN PRESIDENT REF: MUSCAT 1255 Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (SBU) On August 20, former Information Minister and the Sultan's longtime special interlocutor on Iran issues, Abdulaziz al-Rawas, paid an introductory call in Tehran on new Iranian President Ahmadinejad, delivering a personal letter from Sultan Qaboos. According to local press reports, prior to Rawas' return on August 21, he also met with former presidents Khatami and Rafsanjani. ¶2. (C) Following-up on reftel, on August 23 Pol/E Chief asked MFA Political Affairs Chief to the Under Secretary, Humaid al-Maani for a read out of al-Rawas' visit. Al-Maani professed not to know any details about it. P/E Chief noted that, in this current sensitive period, it would be helpful if Iran received consistent and positive reinforcement from its "friends" that it should cooperate fully with the international community on its nuclear program. Al-Maani replied that Omani foreign policy strives to do precisely that. BALTIMORE