PRESIDENT SALEH SAYS YEMEN WILL VOTE WITH US ON IRAN

S E C R E T SANAA 000213

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA A/S WELCH; ARPI MISENHEIMER AND STEINGER
USMISSION UN VIENNA FOR GREG SCHULTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2011
TAGS: PREL, PARM, KNNP, YM
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SALEH SAYS YEMEN WILL VOTE WITH US ON
IRAN

REF: A. USDAO SANAA IIR DTG 071437Z JUN 05
B. 05 SANAA 917

Classified By: DCM NABEEL KHOURY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)

1. (S) At the conclusion of a meeting with Presidential
Special Guard Commander Tarek Mohammed Abdullah Saleh at the
presidential palace, President Saleh, who recently returned
from a visit to Germany, asked to see DCM on several matters
related to Saada fighting and requests for military aid.
Saleh complained to DCM of Iranian "blatant" interference in
Yemeni affairs, saying that they were behind the most recent
flare-up of fighting in Saada. Saleh said, "I came this close
to sending their Ambassador home and cutting off relations."
When DCM said, "As you know, we are in a rather
confrontational phase with them right now over the nuclear
issue," Saleh said, "Yes, yes, and we are now completely on
your side." DCM asked for clarification, "Will you then vote
with us on referring them to the UNSC?" Saleh replied in the
affirmative.

2. (S) We caution that Saleh is temperamental and has been
known to make quick decisions and then, just as quickly,
rescind them. It does seem to us, however, that it would be
good to strike while the right mood is upon him, and ask for
confirmation from Yemen's rep to the IAEA, Dr. Bahran -
currently in Vienna. We also endorse the notion of a VP call
to Saleh, as suggested by NEA, to seal the matter. We
caution, in this regard, that Saleh may use the opportunity
to ask VP Cheney for speeding up a year-old request for M113
armored vehicles (recently approved by Congress) to help the
ROYG in current fighting in Saada.
Krajeski