DRL DAS BARKS-RUGGLES HEARS UAE VIEWS ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001222

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2016
TAGS: PREL IR AE
SUBJECT: DRL DAS BARKS-RUGGLES HEARS UAE VIEWS ON IRAN


Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On March 18, Ambassador and DRL DAS Erica
Barks-Ruggles met with MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid al-Noaimi to
discuss Iran and other bilateral issues. Iran is proceeding
full speed ahead to develop its nuclear program, but
al-Noaimi advised against adopting just a confrontational
approach with the Iranians. He reiterated the UAEG position
that Iran's nuclear program is a security threat. He opined
that there is a lack of stability in the Gulf resulting from
the imbalance of power between Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
Barks-Ruggles told al-Noaimi that the U.S. is interested in
hearing more about a conceptual Gulf security architecture
that would improve the situation. DAS Barks-Ruggles'
discussions on UAE bilateral issues (human rights, labor,
TIP, and domestic reform),and discussions about Iran with
non-UAEG interlocutors, will be covered septel. End Summary.


2. (C) MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid al-Noaimi stressed that the
UAE deals with Iran on a myriad of issues important to the
U.S., including the disputed islands, security in the Gulf,
Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine. Asked for his assessment of
Iran's intentions on its nuclear program, U/S al-Noaimi
believes Iran is forging full speed ahead and will continue
to do so if left alone. The program predates the current
administration by years; it is part of Iran's ambition to
extend its power. It is Iran's stated ambition to have a say
throughout the region, including Afghanistan, Yemen, Central
Asia, and Pakistan. He reiterated the common complaint that
the Iranian system is constructed so that no one ever gets
direct access to the decision makers, and that the MFA and
Secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security Ali

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Larijani are only front offices. He stressed that
verification of any deal on the nuclear issue would be key to
any agreement, that Iranians cannot be trusted. On the other
hand, he advised against adopting purely a confrontational
tack with Iran, and advised a carrot-and-stick approach.


3. (C) Al-Noaimi said the UAE viewed Iran's nuclear program
as a security threat, and has both publicly and privately
flagged its concerns, including the paucity of safeguards and
unclear environmental risks. Even without nuclear
capability, UAE views Iran's military capability as
dangerous, including its missiles, submarines, and
(unspecified) research programs. Al-Noaimi claimed that
whenever any one of the three major regional powers -- Iran,
Iraq, and Saudi Arabia -- feels stronger than the other two,
it begins to push beyond its borders (both literally and
figuratively),raising the prospects of instability.
Referring to "security differentials" in the Gulf, he said
that absent a balance of power, international powers have
been brought in to ensure stability.


4. (C) DAS Barks-Ruggles noted that Washington would be
interested in conceptual ideas on regional security. There
is an appreciation for the complexities of the Iran-Gulf
relationship, and the concept of a Gulf security architecture
which would improve the situation without constantly
requiring the U.S. to act as the stabilizer has been batted
about in academic and think tank circles. Progress on these
regional issues could assist progress on other "harder"
issues.


5. (U) This message was cleared by DRL DAS Barks-Ruggles.
SISON