DEFENSE AND INTERIOR MINISTER ON TERROR FINANCING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001519 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND S/CT, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL KTFN KU IR KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS TERROR FINANCE SUBJECT: DEFENSE AND INTERIOR MINISTER ON TERROR FINANCING AND IRAN'S "DARK TUNNEL" POLICY Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a May 1 meeting with Shaykh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense and Interior Minister, the Ambassador raised shutting down jailed terrorists communications and U.S. interest in proceeding quickly on two military construction projects. During the meeting, the Ambassador also called for laws to combat terror financing and asked for Shaykh Jaber's views on Iranian behavior. Shaykh Jaber agreed to act on the two specific items and welcomed further cooperation on C/T matters. He also discussed the April 16 visit of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and comments made by Hassan Rohani, Iran's former chief nuclear negotiator who accompanied Rafsanjani on the trip. Rohani was openly critical of his President's current nuclear rhetoric while Rafsanjani's wife reportedly called the current policy the "dark tunnel" policy for where it was leading the Iranian people. End summary. Terror and Terror Finance -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador met with Shaykh Jaber, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Interior, on May 1 and raised the continued access to cell phones by jailed terrorists, focusing on a particularly egregious case. The Minister responded that prison inmate conversations were monitored by prison officials but that more could and would be done to "immobilize" jailed terrorist communications or movements. (Note: we are following up in various channels.) The Ambassador also used the opportunity to note the lack of laws specifically outlawing terror financing and conspiracy to commit terrorism. The Ambassador shared points raised by Treasury U/S Levey during his visit with senior GOK officials on April 29. Iran's Dark Tunnel Policy - Criticism and Options -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador asked Shaykh Jaber for his views on motivations for current Iranian behavior. The Minister noted comments made by former Iranian President Rafsanjani's wife during their April 16 trip to Kuwait. Rafsanjani was also accompanied by Hassan Rohani, Iran's former chief nuclear negotiator. Both Rohani and Rafsanjani's family members were freely critical of their current President and his nuclear stance. Rafsanjani's wife described current Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's comments as forcing Iran to enter a "black tunnel," while Rohani repeatedly criticized Ahmedinejad and his handling of the nuclear discussion. ¶4. (C) Shaykh Jaber said he was confounded by the Iranian message which contained neither "rhyme nor reason" to it. He remarked that a "stronger or different" message was needed to turn Iran's path, adding that the Iranians were in communication with Syria. He affirmed that the GOK was "totally aware of Iran's dark tunnel policy," but had failed to come up with the real reason behind it. He counseled that Iran had no reason to push the nuclear stance as alternate sources of energy were available to them. Shaykh Jaber speculated that nuclear power was the "ultimate power" for Iran since currently they had no real threat from their neighbors. ¶5. (C) The Minister then intimated that the topic would be raised at the next GCC Interior Ministers meeting on May 23 in Bahrain. The Ambassador offered the possibility of USG consultations in anticipation of that meeting, akin to what we do in anticipation of GCC Foreign Ministers. The Ambassador also offered the idea of USG training for mid-level GCC Interior officials to create a cadre of officers who have already worked and trained together. Ali Al Salem Airbase Upgrades -------------- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador requested that the Minister, in lieu of Chief of Staff Lt. General Fahd Al-Amir, consider prompt agreement to two U.S.-financed upgrades to Ali Al Salem airbase. The Minister assured the Ambassador that the Deputy Chief of Staff would be tasked to make a decision in the near future. (Note: Lt. General Al-Amir is recovering from medical treatment. End note.) KUWAIT 00001519 002 OF 002 ******************************************** For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ******************************************** LEBARON