CROWN PRINCE REPORTS POSSIBLE IRANIAN ENRICHMENT

S E C R E T MANAMA 000157 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR KNNP PTER MNUC BA REGION SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE REPORTS POSSIBLE IRANIAN ENRICHMENT SUSPENSION ANNOUNCEMENT REF: MANAMA 0130 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (S) Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa told the Ambassador February 19, during a meeting covering several subjects (septels),that outgoing Iranian Ambassador to Bahrain Mohammed Farazmand had told him a day earlier during a farewell call that he expected Iran to announce soon a decision to suspend uranium enrichment activities, which could lead the way to international negotiations. The CP said he was surprised by this because he had seen no press reports or indications that such an announcement might be soon forthcoming. He added that Farazmand had said that Iran wanted "more of a dialogue" with the United States. ¶2. (S) The CP told the Ambassador that Bahrain supports the United States talking to Iran, but if it enters into negotiations, "they (Iran) should feel you are negotiating from a position of strength." He noted that the Iranian government had requested Bahraini agrement for a possible replacement for Farazmand, an MFA official currently in charge of the Iraq desk. The GOB was vetting the name internally now but, based upon the proposed official's current assignment, "I hope we don't accept him," the CP commented. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE