IRAN: BAHRAINI FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO TEHRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000835 SIPDIS BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2028 TAGS: PREL IR SA BA SUBJECT: IRAN: BAHRAINI FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO TEHRAN REF: MANAMA 765 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Ahmadinejad complained that Bahrain hosts "belligerent" U.S. forces, and reiterated Iran's rejection of Bahrain's proposal for a new regional organization that includes Israel. Bahrain and Iran renewed a 2003 agreement on cooperation against smuggling. End summary. ¶2. (C) Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifah met December 25 in Tehran with President Ahmadinejad and FM Mottaki for twenty minutes, and separately with Mottaki alone. Shaikh Khalid provided a readout to CDA early December 27. ¶3. (C) Both Iranians accused Bahrain of hosting U.S. forces with "belligerent" intentions toward Iran. Ahmadinejad and Mottaki contended that the U.S. had entered a period of decline and that now was the time for governments in the region to work out new security arrangements that excluded outsiders. ¶4. (C) According to Shaikh Khalid, Ahmadinejad thought Iran should have better relations in the region than it did, and was particularly disappointed with the Saudis. He reportedly complained that he had visited Saudi Arabia a number of times but there had been no return visit. Shaikh Khalid told CDA that when he related this exchange the next day to King Abdullah in Riyadh, the Saudi laughed and said "never." ¶5. (C) Ahmadinejad and Mottaki each reiterated Iran's rejection of Bahrain's September, 2008 proposal for a new regional organization (reftel) because it would include an "illegitimate entity," i.e. Israel. Ahmadinejad advocated instead a new grouping of Iran, Iraq, the GCC and Yemen. Shaikh Khalid told CDA the Iranian proposal was a non-starter. ¶6. (C) The FM said he told the Iranians that U.S. forces in Bahrain were no threat to Iran, and urged the Iranians to come to terms with international concerns about the nuclear file. Agreement on Police Cooperation -------------- ¶7. (C) Shaikh Khalid confirmed media reports that Bahrain and Iran had signed an agreement regulating contacts between interior ministries. He said it was a renewal of a 2003 agreement that provides for cooperation against smuggling. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL