SOME JORDANIAN VIEWS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001735

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2015
TAGS: PREL MNUC IR JO
SUBJECT: SOME JORDANIAN VIEWS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS


Classified By: CDA DANIEL RUBINSTEIN FOR REASONS 1.4 (b and d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The GOJ shares U.S. concerns about Iran,s
nuclear ambitions, but also fears a U.S.-Iran crisis that
adds to regional tensions. Jordan,s political class and the
popular press, however, often link the Iran nuclear issue to
complaints about the Israeli nuclear program. END SUMMARY.

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GOJ VIEWS
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2. (C) GOJ officials in conversations with U.S. officials
make clear that Jordan is deeply concerned at the prospect of
further Iranian steps toward developing nuclear weapons.
They view Iran,s nuclear policy as provocative, likely to
elicit an Israeli or U.S. response, and destabilizing to the
region. NOTE: They also increasingly cite Iranian behavior
-- outside the nuclear issue -- as negatively impacting many
of the region,s key security challenges, be it in gaining
stability in Iraq, persuading the SARG to change its
behavior, assisting Lebanon,s quest for true independence,
or countering terrorist activity in the Israeli-Palestinian
arena. END NOTE. Jamal al-Shamayleh, Deputy Chief of the
Foreign Ministry,s International Organizations Department,
expressed concern that increased tensions between Iran and
Israel, or the U.S., would compound the region,s many
problems. He said that an Iranian nuclear attack on Israel
would be devastating for Jordan and also feared a
"Chernobyl-like" release of radiation should Israel or the
U.S. choose to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.


3. (C) Discussing Iran with poloff, Dr. Hassan al-Salah, head
of the Ministry of the Interior,s Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons Department, accused the USG of maintaining a double
standard, citing perceived U.S. acquiescence to Israel,s
purported nuclear arsenal. He urged the U.S. to aim for a
nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons-free zone in the
Middle East. NOTE: King Abdullah has also publicly endorsed
calls for a nuclear and WMD-free zone in the region. END
NOTE.

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PRIVATE OPINIONS
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4. (C) MP Suleiman Abu Ghaith (West Banker, Madaba) told
poloff that Iran has the right to pursue a peaceful nuclear
power program. However, he added that he "didn't trust" the
Iranians, and believed their nuclear work should be closely
monitored by the international community. Adamant that
"dialogue is the best way to solve the issue," he claimed
that Iran might reject all international monitoring if
antagonized too much, which would make matters worse." Abu
Ghaith also linked the Iran nuclear issue to Israel, saying
that "by going after Iran and not doing anything about
Israel's nuclear arsenal, the U.S. is acting inconsistently.
This severely weakens its position on Iran in the Arab and
Muslim world." Abu Ghaith,s comments were echoed by several
other contacts.

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THE PRESS
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5. (U) The Jordanian press beats the "double standard" drum
with particular enthusiasm. For example, a columnist for
widely circulated left-leaning Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
wrote that Washington has to come up with a "real
explanation" for its "double standard schizophrenia." If the
U.S embarks on a "new military adventure with encouragement
from Israel", he predicted, Iran would call on its clients in
Iraq to attack U.S forces there. Chief Editor Taher Udwan of
Al-Arab Al-Yawm claimed in a recent column that the U.S. was
manufacturing a crisis "under the illusion that Iran is
seeking to own nuclear weapons," and warned that a U.S.
military escapade against Iran would further ignite the
region. He continued that the Iranian nuclear issue cannot
be resolved with a pre-emptive strike or with an economic
embargo, but with the West "returning to its senses and
stopping their double standards policy."



6. (C) COMMENT: Post's contacts often cite the "double
standard policy"; however, widespread distrust of Iranian
intentions in the region, and suspicions of Shia in general,
outweigh these double standard concerns. Most Jordanians,
when pressed, agree that a nuclear Iran is not in their
interest. END COMMENT.
RUBINSTEIN