REFERRING IRAN TO UNSC: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000090

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2016
TAGS: KNNP PREL PARM IR YM DEMARCHE
SUBJECT: REFERRING IRAN TO UNSC: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS
DEMARCHES

REF: A. STATE 5477

B. STATE 6236

Classified By: AMBASSADOR THOMAS C. KRAJESKI, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).


1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarches to FonMin
Abubakr al-Qirbi on January 16, noting particularly that
Yemen's support in convening an IAEA Board of Governors
meeting would be an important demonstration of the
U.S.-Yemeni security relationship following President Saleh's
November visit to Washington.


2. (C) Qirbi assured Ambassador that Yemen had "no problem"
with supporting an IAEA Board meeting, but would "wait to see
what happens" during that session before deciding on whether
to support, abstain or oppose Iran's referral to the UNSC.
The Iranians are "masters of brinksmanship," he said, "but
they are very important in our region and we must deal with
them carefully."


3. (C) COMMENT: The FonMin offered no surprises in his
response. With probable financial support to the ROYG and a
sizeable Shi'a population in Yemen, Iran has considerable
carrots and sticks at its disposal in influencing the Yemeni
Government. For that reason, we expect the ROYG's position
on a UNSC referral to be neutral at best.
Krajeski