BAHRAIN: IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM FOR NAM SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001641 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM IAEA UNSC BA IR REGION OFFICIALS SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM FOR NAM SUMMIT ATTENDEES REF: STATE 149133 Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche September 10 to MFA Assistant Undersecretary for Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa concerning discussion of the Iranian nuclear program at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana. Shaikh Abdul Aziz reaffirmed that Iran's nuclear program is a matter of great concern to Bahrain and, for this reason, Bahrain is hosting September 10 and 11, in conjunction with the London-based Gulf Centre for Strategic Studies, a conference calling attention to nuclear proliferation in the region. He said that FM Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, who is leading Bahrain's delegation to the NAM summit, had already left Bahrain, but that he would relay the points to the FM upon his arrival in Cuba. ¶2. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz reiterated Bahrain's call for the whole region to be free of nuclear weapons, including Pakistan, India, and Israel, in addition to Iran. He agreed that trust was a major issue with the Iranian regime and that Iran is not transparent enough to confirm their intentions, but he also expressed a wish that there were enough confidence to allow Iran to pursue peaceful development of nuclear energy. Bahrain has consistently called on Iran to build confidence in their intentions by allowing the IAEA to monitor their programs. Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that he was encouraged by the most recent talks between EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran's nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, while cautiously noting that "we may not all be satisfied with the outcome of the talks." He urged the international community to allow sufficient time for the diplomatic effort to progress. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE