RAFSANJANI VISIT TO KUWAIT: GOK SAYS IRANIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001451

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/IR, AND T

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2016
TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV KU KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS
SUBJECT: RAFSANJANI VISIT TO KUWAIT: GOK SAYS IRANIAN
ESCALATION WILL DESTROY THE WHOLE REGION; AMBASSADOR
PRESSES ON PSI

REF: A. KUWAIT 1346

B. KUWAIT 1342

C. KUWAIT 1319

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled
Al-Jarallah told the Ambassador April 26 that April 16-17
discussions with former Iranian president Rafsanjani failed
to produce any flexibility from the Iranian government on its
nuclear ambitions. Al-Jarallah said what was supposed to be
a private trip in response to a longstanding Kuwaiti
invitation, was in fact "almost official." Rafsanjani met
with the Amir and Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Al-Mohammed
who both stated GOK concerns, expressed GCC desire for a
"peaceful solution," and encouraged the GOI to "say something
positive." The GOK further called for "positive steps
vis-a-vis the IAEA and the international community."
Instead, Rafsanjani told the same story: the GOI nuclear
program is for peaceful purposes only, GCC states have
nothing to fear, and Iran's nuclear success will benefit the
entire regime.


2. (C) Al-Jarallah described as "strange" a press report
the day after the Rafsanjani visit to Kuwait citing
Rafsanjani that Kuwait and the GCC would stand by Iran in the
event of a military confrontation with the U.S. Jarallah
said, "this is not true." He continued that Amir Shaykh
Sabah told Rafsanjani to "be realistic because there is
nothing to be gained from escalation." Al-Jarallah said
Rafsanjani occasionally characterized the nuclear issue as a
U.S.-GOI problem, but generally focused on Iran's purported
right to nuclear technology. Rafsanjani also talked about
bilateral issues such as the ongoing maritime boundary
dispute, but without any clear result. Al-Jarallah commented
that Rafsanjani's general discontent with the new Iranian
President was palpable and the former president, in "polite
language" alluded to internal conflict in Iran, but was
careful not to be explicitly critical.

GCC Will Support UNSC Resolution on Iran
--------------


3. (C) Turning to the expected April 28 IAEA report, the
Ambassador asked Al-Jarallah about GCC views on a UN Security
Council resolution and invoking Chapter VII. Al-Jarallah
responded that publicly, the GCC preferred to keep all
channels of communication open, but quickly added, "I'm sure
it's a hopeless cause," and stated confidently the GCC would
support a unified UNSC position. He agreed with the
Ambassador that Iran's nuclear aspirations were a global
problem. He further told the Ambassador GCC Heads of State
would discuss Iran at a May 6 summit in Riyadh. The
Ambassador urged Jarallah to make sure that the Russians and
the Chinese were aware of strong Kuwaiti and GCC views about
the danger of Iranian nuclear developments. Jarallah stated
he had recently met with an adviser to Putin (he did not
remember the name) and had made the GOK's views known.

Ambassador Presses for PSI Endorsement
--------------


4. (C) On a related issue, the Ambassador reviewed with
Al-Jarallah the April 11 visit of Under Secretary of State
for Arms Control and International Security Joseph and
encouraged the GOK to endorse the Proliferation Security
Initiative (PSI). He said other Gulf states had indicated
interest in PSI and would participate in a May meeting in
Poland. He encouraged Kuwait PSI endorsement and
participation.

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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LEBARON