Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA727
2006-04-26 14:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
UPS AND DOWNS IN BAHRAIN'S RELATIONS WITH IRAN
how-toVZCZCXRO5352 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHMK #0727 1161428 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 261428Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4579 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000727
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PREL KNNP PTER BA IR REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: UPS AND DOWNS IN BAHRAIN'S RELATIONS WITH IRAN
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4
(B)(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000727
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PREL KNNP PTER BA IR REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: UPS AND DOWNS IN BAHRAIN'S RELATIONS WITH IRAN
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4
(B)(D)
1. (C) In a meeting covering several subjects (septels),the
Ambassador April 26 asked MFA Assistant Under Secretary for
Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al
Khalifa about the latest developments in Bahrain's relations
with Iran, most notably President Ahmadi-Nejad's recent phone
call to the King and Iranian NSC Secretary General Ali
Larijani's April 23 visit to Bahrain. Observing that Iran
seemed to be increasingly engaged with GCC countries
(Rafsanjani's recent visit to Kuwait was another example),
the Ambassador asked Shaikh Abdul Aziz for an assessment of
recent Iranian contacts with Bahrain.
2. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz stated that the Ahmadi-Nejad phone
call was generated by Iranian irritation about two recent
incidents with Bahrain. First, Larijani had planned to visit
Bahrain several weeks ago as part of a tour of the Gulf.
King Hamad was out of the country then, and the request was
made for a meeting with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince,
however, refused to meet with Larijani, so Larijani canceled
his plans to stop in Bahrain. Ahmadi-Nejad in his phone call
to the King, asked that the meeting be rescheduled. The King
agreed, and met Larijani on April 23. Shaikh Abdul Aziz did
not have a readout of the King's discussion with Larijani.
Press reports stated that the conversation focused on Iran's
nuclear program, and security and stability in the region.
3. (C) Second, Ahmadi-Nejad called to complain about comments
made by Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid following Egyptian
President Mubarak's' well-publicized remarks questioning the
loyalty of Shia in Arab countries. In his public reaction,
Shaikh Khalid said that the support of Bahrain's Shia for the
nation were well-known and clear over the course of history.
But not wanting to be seen as criticizing Mubarak, Shaikh
Abdul Aziz said, Shaikh Khalid added that there were elements
in Iran that were "playing with fire" and inciting problems
between Iran and the Arabian Gulf countries by encouraging
sectarianism. The "playing with fire" comment made
front-page headlines in Bahrain the next day.
4. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz stated that the Iranian Ambassador
called him at home at 8:00 AM that morning (a weekend) to
complain about Shaikh Khalid's statement. Shaikh Abdul Aziz
told the Iranian that Shaikh Khalid was not accusing the
Iranian government, but rather non-governmental elements.
When the Iranian Ambassador persisted in his complaint, Abdul
Aziz reminded him of a previous conversation the two had had
when Shaikh Abdul Aziz had complained about statements made
in Iran by Bahrain senior cleric Ayatollah Mohammed Sanad,
who suggested that a 1970s UN referendum on Bahrain's status
as an independent country (and not a part of Iran) should be
reheld. At the time, the Iranian Ambassador had said that
the Iranian government should not be held accountable for
statements by non-government elements. This was the kind of
element, Shaikh Abdul Aziz said, that Shaikh Khalid was
referring to in his comment.
5. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that, prior to these recent
incidents, Bahraini-Iranian relations had in fact reached an
all-time high after difficult times in recent years. He
noted that there had been a high tempo of bilateral visits,
and business was increasing between the two countries in
"huge" amounts. The basis of the relationship was always
economic, and that part has been getting better. The
Ambassador acknowledged that GCC countries had their own
reasons for remaining engaged with their Iranian neighbor,
but noted that the issue of relations with Iran would most
likely heat up as we look for ways to increase pressure on
the Iranian regime, including the possibility of sanctions.
The Bahrain government at the highest levels has repeatedly
stated its firm opposition to nuclear weapons in Iran, and a
key element in preventing that will be broad support for
measures to increase pressure on the Iranian government.
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PREL KNNP PTER BA IR REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: UPS AND DOWNS IN BAHRAIN'S RELATIONS WITH IRAN
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4
(B)(D)
1. (C) In a meeting covering several subjects (septels),the
Ambassador April 26 asked MFA Assistant Under Secretary for
Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al
Khalifa about the latest developments in Bahrain's relations
with Iran, most notably President Ahmadi-Nejad's recent phone
call to the King and Iranian NSC Secretary General Ali
Larijani's April 23 visit to Bahrain. Observing that Iran
seemed to be increasingly engaged with GCC countries
(Rafsanjani's recent visit to Kuwait was another example),
the Ambassador asked Shaikh Abdul Aziz for an assessment of
recent Iranian contacts with Bahrain.
2. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz stated that the Ahmadi-Nejad phone
call was generated by Iranian irritation about two recent
incidents with Bahrain. First, Larijani had planned to visit
Bahrain several weeks ago as part of a tour of the Gulf.
King Hamad was out of the country then, and the request was
made for a meeting with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince,
however, refused to meet with Larijani, so Larijani canceled
his plans to stop in Bahrain. Ahmadi-Nejad in his phone call
to the King, asked that the meeting be rescheduled. The King
agreed, and met Larijani on April 23. Shaikh Abdul Aziz did
not have a readout of the King's discussion with Larijani.
Press reports stated that the conversation focused on Iran's
nuclear program, and security and stability in the region.
3. (C) Second, Ahmadi-Nejad called to complain about comments
made by Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid following Egyptian
President Mubarak's' well-publicized remarks questioning the
loyalty of Shia in Arab countries. In his public reaction,
Shaikh Khalid said that the support of Bahrain's Shia for the
nation were well-known and clear over the course of history.
But not wanting to be seen as criticizing Mubarak, Shaikh
Abdul Aziz said, Shaikh Khalid added that there were elements
in Iran that were "playing with fire" and inciting problems
between Iran and the Arabian Gulf countries by encouraging
sectarianism. The "playing with fire" comment made
front-page headlines in Bahrain the next day.
4. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz stated that the Iranian Ambassador
called him at home at 8:00 AM that morning (a weekend) to
complain about Shaikh Khalid's statement. Shaikh Abdul Aziz
told the Iranian that Shaikh Khalid was not accusing the
Iranian government, but rather non-governmental elements.
When the Iranian Ambassador persisted in his complaint, Abdul
Aziz reminded him of a previous conversation the two had had
when Shaikh Abdul Aziz had complained about statements made
in Iran by Bahrain senior cleric Ayatollah Mohammed Sanad,
who suggested that a 1970s UN referendum on Bahrain's status
as an independent country (and not a part of Iran) should be
reheld. At the time, the Iranian Ambassador had said that
the Iranian government should not be held accountable for
statements by non-government elements. This was the kind of
element, Shaikh Abdul Aziz said, that Shaikh Khalid was
referring to in his comment.
5. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that, prior to these recent
incidents, Bahraini-Iranian relations had in fact reached an
all-time high after difficult times in recent years. He
noted that there had been a high tempo of bilateral visits,
and business was increasing between the two countries in
"huge" amounts. The basis of the relationship was always
economic, and that part has been getting better. The
Ambassador acknowledged that GCC countries had their own
reasons for remaining engaged with their Iranian neighbor,
but noted that the issue of relations with Iran would most
likely heat up as we look for ways to increase pressure on
the Iranian regime, including the possibility of sanctions.
The Bahrain government at the highest levels has repeatedly
stated its firm opposition to nuclear weapons in Iran, and a
key element in preventing that will be broad support for
measures to increase pressure on the Iranian government.
MONROE