(C) KUWAITI OFFICIAL CORROBORATES INFORMATION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003447 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/IR, NSC FOR RAMCHAND E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2016 TAGS: PGOV MNUC IR KU KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS SUBJECT: (C) KUWAITI OFFICIAL CORROBORATES INFORMATION ON HIZBALLAH MISSILES, VOICES CONCERN ON IRAN Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) In an August 23 meeting, PolOff delivered cleared USNAVCENT Intelligence information on Hizballah missiles used against Israel to Shaykh Thamer Ali Al-Sabah, the Office Director of the President of the National Security Bureau, Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Sabah. (Note: This information was previously passed to the Kuwait Ministry of Defense. End note.) Shaykh Ahmed requested the information during an August 19 meeting with the Ambassador, explaining that the GOK wanted to know what types of missiles could potentially be used against Kuwait. (Comment: Shaykh Ahmed, a highly influential member of the ruling family and former Minister of Energy, will accompany the Amir on his upcoming visit to Washington. He has requested side meetings with American intelligence officials and may raise this issue. End comment.) Given the context of the request, Shaykh Ahmed seemed concerned about the threat of Iranian-affiliated Shi'a militants in southern Iraq and possible attacks on Kuwaiti oil tankers in the Gulf. Reviewing the information, Shyakh Thamer said Kuwaiti intelligence had received similar information indicating that the missiles were based on a Chinese design, manufactured in Iran with slight modifications, and then transported to Lebanon through Iraq and Syria. ¶2. (C/NF) Commenting on Iran's nuclear program, Shaykh Thamer said he believed "Iran would not use nukes on Kuwait." He continued: "We tell the Iranians that we are not threatened by you developing nuclear weapons. If we were concerned about you attacking us, we would be threatened by your existing (military) capabilities." What Kuwait is worried about is the potential environmental impact of Iran's nuclear program, specifically the possibility of an accident at the Bushehr nuclear facility (only 120 kilometers from Kuwait) and Iran's ability to safely dispose of nuclear waste, Shaykh Thamer explained. In his August 19 meeting with the Ambassador, Shaykh Ahmed said he was "100% sure" Iran had non-Kuwaiti operatives in Kuwait that the Iranians "can use when they want." He added that Iran was only using Kuwaitis for propaganda purposes and there was no evidence that "the new Kuwaiti generation" was receiving training in Lebanon or Iran, as some Kuwaitis allegedly had in the 1980s. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * LeBaron