IRANIAN ENVOY MAHSOULI VISITS UAE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 004413 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/IR, NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016 TAGS: PGOV IR AE SUBJECT: IRANIAN ENVOY MAHSOULI VISITS UAE CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) On November 29, Iranian presidential advisor and envoy Sadiq Mahsouli traveled to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to meet with UAEG officials. Mahsouli met first with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at his palace in Al Ain, then with Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MbR) in Dubai. ¶2. (U) The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that Mahsouli delivered a private note to Khalifa and conveyed wishes of happiness and prosperity for the UAE. Khalifa stated that UAE policy in regards to Iran is based on "mutual respect and interests," and on "fostering the spirit of cooperation." WAM reported that MbR and Mahsouli discussed bilateral relations, current events in the Gulf, and explored "ways of maintaining stability" and "peaceful co-existence" between the two countries. ¶3. (C) Reflecting the sometimes schizophrenic nature of the UAE-Iran relationship -- with robust trade ties and presidential pleasantries counter-balanced by UAEG declarations of Iran as a security risk -- Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al-Rumaithi began a November 29 meeting with USLO Chief by declaring that his efforts were squarely focused on defending the UAE against the Iranian threat. On the heels of Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD) follow-on technical discussions, he sought close coordination and asked for additional military engagement, joint exercises, shared early warning, and Bilateral Air Defense Initiative (BADI) cooperation to help prepare the UAE militarily. SISON