IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISIT TO MUSCAT (JULY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000536

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2018
TAGS: PREL KNNP MNUC IR MU
SUBJECT: IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISIT TO MUSCAT (JULY
16-17)

REF: MUSCAT 445

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


1. (SBU) Summary: Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher
Mottaki made a brief visit to Muscat on July 16 for talks
with Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin
Alawi. Mottaki reportedly did not meet with other senior
Omani officials. While in Oman, Mottaki granted a press
interview to a local Arabic-language daily in which he sought
to put a positive spin on negotiations between Tehran and the
P5 plus 1 and avoided harsh criticism of the U.S. End
Summary.


2. (U) Iranian FM Mottaki arrived in Muscat in the early
evening of July 16 for an overnight visit to meet with Omani
FM bin Alawi. Local press reported that the two ministers
discussed "joint cooperation in political and economic
fields," as well as "the current situation in the Iranian
nuclear file, Iraq and the Middle East." There was no
official statement following the talks and, according to the
media, Mottaki did not meet with any senior Omani officials
outside the MFA.


3. (U) Before departing Oman on July 17 for Damascus,
Mottaki answered questions on a number of topics in a press
interview with independent Arabic-language daily
"Al-Shabiba." Asked about his "surprise" visit to Muscat,
Mottaki responded that his trip should be seen in the context
of a "regular exchange of visits between the two countries"
during which "we review bilateral relations and discuss the
latest developments in the region." Mottaki added that he
also discussed Iran's relations with the GCC, noting that
Oman would head the next GCC summit, as well as Omani-Iranian
"cooperation in the field of gas."


4. (U) On the meeting between Iranian nuclear negotiator
Saeed Jalili and P5 plus 1 representatives scheduled for July
20 in Geneva, Mottaki stated that he hoped there would be
"new ideas" raised during the talks, which he expected to be
"fruitful and constructive." He remarked that Iran had
"studied the suggestions" made by EU High Representative
Javier Solana in Tehran while presenting the updated P5 plus
1 package of incentives, but gave no indication of how Iran
might respond to the package. When asked if Iran would
continue to refuse suspending its nuclear enrichment
activities, Mottaki side-stepped the question, saying that
the talks in Switzerland would "deal with many issues" and
that negotiators should seek "common ground" between the two
sides.


5. (U) Regarding a possible U.S. or Israeli military strike
against Iran, Mottaki stated that "all parties" are pursuing
a diplomatic resolution to contentious issues and that he did
not believe that "the other side" was heading in the
direction of a military confrontation. He expounded,
however, that Iran was ready for "all scenarios" and that "a
militaristic threat" would be responded to in-kind as Iranian
leaders have a "great responsibility ... to defend our
homeland."


6. (U) Mottaki praised the "Lebanese resistance" for
Israel's recent release of Lebanese prisoners and for
"freeing most Lebanese territories." "Releasing
(Palestinian) prisoners and liberating the Palestinian
territories must also be made by applying pressure on the
Zionist regime," he stated. Mottaki called upon the United
Nations and Lebanese officials to "do their best" to provide
information on the fate of four Iranian diplomats kidnapped
in Lebanon, adding that "we think the Zionist regime is
behind this crime."


7. (U) Asked about the idea of the U.S. opening an Interests
Section in Tehran, Mottaki replied that such a proposal
"could be discussed between both sides." He claimed that
Iran was "witnessing increasing interest by intellectual and
prominent figures from the U.S. in visiting Iran," and
commented that Iran was keen to facilitate such visits,
including through the establishment of direct air links
between the two countries. Regarding the upcoming U.S.
presidential elections, Mottaki stated that "no matter who
wins the U.S. presidency," the U.S. "must learn a lesson ...
and establish fair relations with other countries." He
further remarked that "it makes no difference (to us) who
wins in the U.S. elections - we have tried them all from the
different parties over the past 30 years."


8. (C) Comment: Mottaki's visit is yet another indication
of Tehran's efforts to strengthen its bilateral relationship
with Oman (reftel). Despite being given plenty of
opportunity in his interview to lambaste the U.S., Mottaki
chose to soft-pedal (at least by Iranian standards) his

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criticism of American policies and the current
administration. It is noteworthy that Mottaki granted an
exclusive press interview to an independent Omani daily,
rather than one of the state-owned papers. Mottaki was
likely steered towards "Al-Shabiba" by Omani officials
because the interviewing journalist, Mohammed al-Balushi (a
graduate of the Department's Edward R. Murrow Journalism
Program),is recognized as one of Oman's most credible
reporters and known for his interviews of visiting U.S.
officials. End Comment.
GRAPPO