EGYPT AND IRAN/IAEA: PRESSING FOR REFERENCE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000604 SIPDIS NSC STAFF FOR SINGH E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016 TAGS: PREL KNNP IR EG IAEA UNSC SUBJECT: EGYPT AND IRAN/IAEA: PRESSING FOR REFERENCE TO NUCLEAR-FREE MIDDLE EAST Classified by Ambassador Francis Ricciardone for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) During Security Coordinator LTG Dayton's February 1 meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit (septel),the Ambassador handed Aboul Gheit a copy of the draft IAEA resolution on Iran. Aboul Gheit pressed for the resolution to include reference to a nuclear-free Middle East. Echoing previous comments, Aboul Gheit said "we need something to show our people," failure to mention the nuclear free zone "puts Egypt in a tough spot." At the same time, Aboul Gheit acknowledged that such a reference was unlikely - "now that you have Russian and Chinese support, you don't need Egypt." RICCIARDONE