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