Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA830
2007-08-30 12:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
NEW IRANIAN AMBASSADOR DRAWS CRITICISM
how-toVZCZCXRO4428 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHMK #0830 2421243 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 301243Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7199 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000830
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017
TAGS: PREL IR BA
SUBJECT: NEW IRANIAN AMBASSADOR DRAWS CRITICISM
REF: MANAMA 810
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Christopher Henzel for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000830
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017
TAGS: PREL IR BA
SUBJECT: NEW IRANIAN AMBASSADOR DRAWS CRITICISM
REF: MANAMA 810
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) The announcement that Hossein Amir Abdollahian will be
Iran's next ambassador to Bahrain has drawn sharp criticism
from at least one Salafist member of Bahrain's parliament.
Jassim Al-Saeedi, an independent Salafi member of the lower
house of parliament who has been engaged in sectarian
name-calling with Bahraini Shi'a (reftel),called upon the
MFA to reject Abdollahian's appointment because of what he
claimed were Abdollahian's ties to the Iranian military.
2. (U) Al-Saeedi based his comments on media reports about
Abdollahian's previous duties as head of the Special
Committee for Iraq Affairs within the Iranian MFA, deputy to
Iranian FM Mottaki's special envoy on Iraq, and as Charge
d'Affaires at Iran's EMBASSY in Baghdad.
3. (C) Comment: Abdollahian's ties to Iran's Iraq policy make
him immediately suspect to those Sunni Bahrainis who view the
Shi'a community here as loyal to Iran, and his appointment is
causing a stir before he has even arrived.
********************************************* ********
Visit EMBASSY Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
HENZEL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017
TAGS: PREL IR BA
SUBJECT: NEW IRANIAN AMBASSADOR DRAWS CRITICISM
REF: MANAMA 810
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) The announcement that Hossein Amir Abdollahian will be
Iran's next ambassador to Bahrain has drawn sharp criticism
from at least one Salafist member of Bahrain's parliament.
Jassim Al-Saeedi, an independent Salafi member of the lower
house of parliament who has been engaged in sectarian
name-calling with Bahraini Shi'a (reftel),called upon the
MFA to reject Abdollahian's appointment because of what he
claimed were Abdollahian's ties to the Iranian military.
2. (U) Al-Saeedi based his comments on media reports about
Abdollahian's previous duties as head of the Special
Committee for Iraq Affairs within the Iranian MFA, deputy to
Iranian FM Mottaki's special envoy on Iraq, and as Charge
d'Affaires at Iran's EMBASSY in Baghdad.
3. (C) Comment: Abdollahian's ties to Iran's Iraq policy make
him immediately suspect to those Sunni Bahrainis who view the
Shi'a community here as loyal to Iran, and his appointment is
causing a stir before he has even arrived.
********************************************* ********
Visit EMBASSY Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
HENZEL