BAHRAIN: IRAN'S INVITATION TO INSPECT BUSHEHR

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000462 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA, ISN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017 TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP BA IR REGION SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: IRAN'S INVITATION TO INSPECT BUSHEHR NUCLEAR POWER REACTOR REF: STATE 68995 Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief May 22 delivered reftel demarche concerning an Iranian invitation to GCC countries to inspect the Bushehr reactor to MFA Assistant Under Secretary for Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa. Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that to his knowledge, Bahrain had not received an invitation from Iran to visit Bushehr. Even if Bahrain received an invitation, "what would we do with it?," he asked rhetorically. There are no nuclear experts in Bahrain and there would be no point in having any Bahraini go. Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that the IAEA is the only institution that should inspect Bushehr, and he would recommend that this be the GOB's answer should Iran issue an invitation. ¶2. (C) On a related point, Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that IAEA experts were in Bahrain currently discussing Bahrain's accession to the organization with relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE