IAEA CHIEF VISITS MUSCAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000371

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: PREL KNNP IR MU
SUBJECT: IAEA CHIEF VISITS MUSCAT

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) Following talks with GCC and Saudi officials in
Riyadh on April 12, IAEA Director General Mohammed al-Baradei
made an unannounced visit to Muscat en route to Jordan and
met with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin
Alawi. Bin Alawi informed the Ambassador on April 14 that
Baradei had come to the Gulf to discuss the GCC's civilian
nuclear energy initiative and to strongly advocate for full
IAEA participation in efforts to develop nuclear power in the
region. According to the Minister, Baradei strongly
discouraged Oman and other GCC countries from turning to
"private firms" for nuclear technology, and asked that they
instead work directly with the IAEA in exploring and
developing nuclear energy. Baradei did not directly raise or
discuss Iran's nuclear program, but told bin Alawi that he
did not want the GCC to "make the same mistake as Iran" by
trying to cover up or conceal its activities in pursuit of
nuclear power. Baradei reportedly also repeated the IAEA's
public stance that there is insufficient information to
conclusively state that Iran's nuclear program is for
peaceful purposes only.


2. (C) Bin Alawi told the Ambassador that Oman would
continue to call within the GCC for a "careful and thorough"
analysis of the energy needs of the region over the next
10-20 years before finalizing any plans for nuclear power
development. He said that he preferred that the GCC first
embark on an "experimental" nuclear program before moving to
full-scale power generation, but in any event was confident
that GCC countries would fully abide by the terms of the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
GRAPPO