FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES IRAN AND IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000117 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2017 TAGS: PREL BA IR IZ REGION SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES IRAN AND IRAQ Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (U) This is an action request; please see para 9. -------------- Summary -------------- ¶2. (C) Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid told the Ambassador February 6 that he would soon visit Iran to deliver a "clear message" that Iran's behavior on its nuclear program was dangerous for the Gulf region. He asked if the USG could provide points addressing specific steps the international community requires Iran to take to be transparent and abide by UN requirements on its nuclear program. On Iraq, he said there would be an Iraq Neighbors meeting in Baghdad, either in early March or after the Arab Summit, which takes place March 28. Shaikh Khalid affirmed that Abdul Aziz Al Hakim would visit Bahrain February 8 and would meet with the King, Prime Minister, and Deputy PM Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak. Sunni Salafi political society Al Asala issued a statement February 7 blasting the government for hosting Al Hakim, saying "our brothers in Iraq are subjected to ethnic cleansing and displacement" because of Al Hakim. End Summary. -------------- Foreign Minister to Visit Iran -------------- ¶3. (C) In a meeting covering several subjects (septels), Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa told the Ambassador February 6 that he would visit Tehran soon to deliver a "clear message" about Iran's responsibility to keep the region calm, peaceful, and prosperous. He will tell Foreign Minister Mottaki and National Security Advisor Larijani that Iran has a duty to its neighbors and "should not fight the whole world." Shaikh Khalid said that his visit would come after that of the Kuwaiti foreign minister, and he would be the last of the GCC foreign ministers to go to Iran. ¶4. (C) Shaikh Khalid emphasized that he was not going to Iran to negotiate on anyone's behalf. He was going to deliver a message as a neighbor. If in the future there is a conflict with Iran, the GOB wants to be able to say to the Iranians, "We told you so many times..." Bahrain supports Iran's right to a peaceful nuclear program, but Shaikh Khalid said he would tell his interlocutors that they were not doing a good job of proving to the world that the program was peaceful. Shaikh Khalid asked the Ambassador if he could �00A;provide him with points to be used in his meetings in Iran addressing specific steps the international community requires Iran to take to be transparent and abide by UN requirements on its nuclear program. The Ambassador replied that the U.S. would prefer that he not travel to Iran at all. He said he would consult Washington on suggested points for Shaikh Khalid's use, but stressed that the Foreign Minister could in no way be seen as carrying a message from the United States. Shaikh Khalid said he fully understood; he just wanted to make the strongest case consistent with the U.S. position. -------------- Abdul Aziz Al Hakim To Visit Bahrain -------------- ¶5. (C) Turning to Iraq, Shaikh Khalid said there were plans for a neighbors meeting (plus Egypt and Bahrain) in Baghdad in early March. Bahrain will attend, but it is possible the meeting could be pushed back until after the Arab Summit on March 28. He noted that there would be many bumps in the road to the Arab Summit. Syria does not want to come because President Asad expects to feel pressure from his counterparts. ¶6. (C) Shaikh Khalid confirmed press reports that Abdul Aziz Al Hakim would visit Bahrain on February 8. He will meet with King Hamad, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa, and Deputy PM Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak. He stated that Bahrain is worried about Iraq. There was not just fighting between Sunnis and Shias; now there were intra-Sunni and intra-Shia clashes. He said that securing the borders and stopping foreign infiltrations would be a major step in controlling the situation, and recalled Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad's comment to King Hamad some time ago, that a weak Iraq is in Iran's interest. Shaikh Khalid decried this point of view, saying innocent people were dying every day. ¶7. (C) Shaikh Khalid said that Iraqis needed to begin addressing national reconciliation on an urgent basis. A MANAMA 00000117 002 OF 002 reconciliation process could serve as a vehicle for the provision of Arab assistance to Iraq. He asked, how could Iraqi society become so polarized? Opportunists had hijacked religion for political reasons. He warned that sectarianism was not good for Iraq, Bahrain, or the region. -------------- Salafis Condemn Al Hakim Visit -------------- ¶8. (SBU) In a related development, the Sunni Salafi Al Asala political society, which has the second largest representation in the elected lower house of parliament, the Council of Representatives, issued a statement February 7 condemning Al Hakim's visit to Bahrain, calling it a great offense to "our Sunni brothers in Iraq and all honorable Iraqis." The statement continues that Iraqi Sunnis are subjected to ethnic cleansing and displacement because of the Badr militia and death squads "headed by Al Hakim." Al Asala demanded that the government reject the entry of Al Hakim "because it is not honorable to receive a person whose hands are stained with the blood of innocents." -------------- Action Request -------------- ¶9. (C) Please advise if Washington can provide points on the international community's requirements on Iran's nuclear program, per Shaikh Khalid's request. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE