IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS OMANIS HE'S EAGER

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000436 SIPDIS SIPDIS OPS CENTER PLEASE PASS TO THE SECRETARY'S PARTY E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2017 TAGS: PREL IR MU SUBJECT: IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS OMANIS HE'S EAGER TO MEET WITH SECRETARY RICE REF: MUSCAT 369 Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo per 1.5 (B and D). ¶1. (U) See paragraph 5 action request. ¶2. (C) On the margins of the Oman-Iran Joint Economic Committee meeting in Muscat May 1, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Motaki met briefly with Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi. While the Joint Committee meeting had been previously scheduled, the Iranian's participation, although rumored, was not announced. ¶3. (C) In a telephone call with the Ambassador May 2 on his way to the airport for his flight to the ICI gathering in Sharm al-Sheikh, bin Alawi confirmed that Motaki expected to meet with Secretary Rice in Sharm al-Sheikh and that he was "eager" for the opportunity. Bin Alawi said he had encouraged Motaki not only to meet with the Secretary but also to review the relevant issues, especially pertaining to Iraq, using "positive language," i.e., avoid rhetoric and posturing. Following his Muscat visit, said the Omani, Motaki returned to Tehran "for further instructions" before heading on to Egypt. ¶4. (C) Bin Alawi said the two spoke little of the nuclear issue. However, bin Alawi told the Ambassador that the Omanis had spoken with the Swiss on their initiatives (reftel) to stimulate creative thinking among the Iranians to break the current impasse on Iranian nuclear fuel enrichment. He said that the two sides are working independently but coordinating their respective efforts in Tehran. Bin Alawi plans to travel to Tehran next week for further talks with Larijani and others. ¶5. (C) Action Request: Bin Alawi would like to meet with the Secretary in Sharm al-Sheikh, if only on the margins, to SIPDIS update her on his meetings with the Iranians. GRAPPO