Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MUSCAT1558
2006-11-06 07:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

OMAN'S FM ON RECENT VISIT OF IRANIAN FOREIGN

Tags:  PREL KNNP MU IR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0171
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMS #1558 3100752
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 060752Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7369
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001558 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR P, NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2016
TAGS: PREL KNNP MU IR
SUBJECT: OMAN'S FM ON RECENT VISIT OF IRANIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER

REF: MUSCAT 01414

Classified By: AMBASSADOR GARY A. GRAPPO PER 1.5 (B AND D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001558

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR P, NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2016
TAGS: PREL KNNP MU IR
SUBJECT: OMAN'S FM ON RECENT VISIT OF IRANIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER

REF: MUSCAT 01414

Classified By: AMBASSADOR GARY A. GRAPPO PER 1.5 (B AND D).


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with Minister
Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi November 4 to
review the October 31 visit to Oman of Iranian Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Motaki. Motaki, who stayed for only a
few hours, told the Omani Minister that the Iranians had
reached an understanding with EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier
Solana on eleven points related to nuclear technology and
development, and that its consortium proposal had not been
rejected. The Iranian warned that his government would not
negotiate under the threat of sanctions and claimed that the
government is already coming under pressure from the Iranian
parliament to break off discussions with the P-5 plus-one.
Although Lebanon and Iraq were not discussed in significant
detail, bin Alawi reconfirmed Omani concerns that Iran is
angling to play a greater role in regional affairs, including
possibly in the Israeli-Palestinian matter. End summary.


2. (C) Bin Alawi told the Ambassador that FM Motaki's stop
in Oman was in response to the Omani FM's September visit to
Tehran (reftel) and part of a regional tour that also
included Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE. The Gulf tour
specifically did not include Saudi Arabia (NFI),said bin
Alawi. Motaki's discussion focused almost entirely on the
nuclear portfolio and Iran's discussions with the EU. The
Iranian FM told bin Alawi that discussions with Javier Solana
had gone well and that "an understanding" had been reached on
eleven points (NFI). Discussions continued, however, on the
Iranian proposal to form a consortium to manage Iran's
acquisition and use of nuclear technology and materials. The
consortium, said bin Alawi, would give Tehran the control
they wanted and the domestic political cover they needed.
The Tehran-based consortium would purportedly include
international (largely western) companies, be open to IAEA
inspection and have charge of all nuclear fuel enrichment.
Motaki would only say that Solana had "not rejected" the
Iranians' consortium idea. Regarding the UN Security
Council's insistence that Iran suspend enrichment, Motaki
told bin Alawi that Iran was willing to suspend its
activities until the consortium was formed, or about two
months.


3. (C) Bin Alawi said he underscored to the Iranian Oman's
opposition to the introduction of nuclear weapons into the
region and urged him to continue earnest negotiations with
the UNSC to reach an acceptable agreement. Motaki reportedly
responded that his government is under increasing pressure
from Iran's parliament to break off negotiations, especially
if sanctions are imposed. Bin Alawi said that his Iranian
counterpart was adamant that Iran would not negotiate under
the pressure of sanctions and would likely suspend many of
the IAEA's remaining monitoring and inspection activities in
Iran if a sanctions resolution were adopted. Bin Alawi mused
that while some of this was bluff, the Iranians are likely to
become more obstinate if UNSC sanctions are adopted. "The
Iranians become belligerent and stubborn when backed into a
corner," he said.


4. (C) The Omani minister said there was little discussion
about either Lebanon or Iraq with his Iranian visitor.
However, he offered his assessment that, in view of
Hizballah's "victory" in southern Lebanon, the Iranians will
continue to assert themselves in the region and he would not
be surprised to see them attempt to play or claim some role
in the Israeli-Palestinian issue. "Obviously, some Arabs
would have reservations with any such Iranian attempt," he
averred. He concluded by observing that the U.S., following
this week's mid-term elections, will have to become "much
more active" to avert such a consequence; "and you've only
got one year before you are swallowed up in the 2008
elections."

GRAPPO