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