UAE CITES IRAN RHETORIC AS UNJUSTIFIED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000130

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/IR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2019
TAGS: PREL IR AE
SUBJECT: UAE CITES IRAN RHETORIC AS UNJUSTIFIED

REFS: A) ABU DHABI 126, B) 08 ABU DHABI 1223, C) 08 ABU DHABI 998, D)
08 ABU DHABI 942

ABU DHABI 00000130 001.2 OF 002


Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) The Iran Regional Presence Office (IRPO) in Dubai
contributed to this message.


2. (C) Summary: A salvo of rhetorical barrages from Iran has
reinvigorated references to disputed islands and highlighted the
stricter handling of Iranian visitors by UAE immigration. Recent
outbursts in this irregular exchange of claims and counterclaims
emanated from the Iranian Majlis, which took umbrage at what deputies
said were "expansionist" UAE claims on Iranian territory and
indignities to Iranian citizens. Not prone to confrontation with its
larger neighbor, the UAEG offered a measured reply, issued through
the media by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Rhetoric
remains the preferred method of issuing mutual challenges, with
political emotions likely egged on by Iranian elections and
commemorations of the revolution. End summary.

Iranian rhetoric sparks verbal escalation
--------------


3. (C) Sharp rhetoric is often Iran's response to a perceived insult
or "threat" to its national interests. True to form, Iranian Majlis
deputies issued several nationalist and cautionary statements
criticizing the UAE over its claims to three disputed Gulf islands
and complaints by Iranians over their treatment at UAE airports.
Although neither of these issues are new, Majlis attention to them in
a January 28 question-and-answer session with FM Manoucher Mottaki
produced several sharp statements about the UAE (note: Mottaki was
called to the Majlis to answer criticisms of the MFA's policy of
"silence and inaction" in the face of "expansionist" UAE policies):

-- Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani was widely quoted as saying that
mistreatment of Iranian citizens was a serious issue that would
prompt Iran to reconsider its policies toward the UAE;

-- Majlis Deputy Darioush Qanbari compared the UAE's island claims to
the designs Saddam Hussein had on Iranian territory and that the UAE
"is seeking to endanger Iranian territorial integrity;"

-- Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee member Awad
Haidar-Pour claimed that in addition to the three islands, all of the
UAE's seven emirates belonged to Iran, according to one press report;
and

-- Majlis Deputy Javad Jahangir Zadeh called on Iran to sever
relations with the UAE and proposed to pursue legislation
transferring Iran investment from Dubai to Turkey if the UAE
continued to take "provocative actions" against Iranian citizens.


4. (C) These comments follow Iranian criticisms of Arab governments
for their "lack of response" to Israel's aggression in Gaza and
against the backdrop of commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the
Islamic Revolution, adding to the already high degree of Iran's
nationalistic sentiment heightened still further in an election
environment. President Ahmadinejad also called for the U.S. to
apologize for its past crimes in a speech in Khermanshah, and in a
separate speech commemorating the revolution on January 30 he said
the Islamic Revolution was not finished and not confined to Iran's
borders.

The UAE responds
--------------


5. (SBU) Not wanting to let Iran's rhetoric against the UAE stand
without offering UAEG context, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Dr. Anwar Gargash addressed the media on January 31 (his remarks to
al-Arabiya TV were repeated by the Emirates News Agency and in many
papers February 1). Characterizing Iran's complaints as "neither
understandable nor justified," he calmly suggested tamping down the
bellicosity in the interest of long-standing cordial relations.
Noting that Tehran's complaints may be related to "Iran's internal
situation" or upcoming elections, he said such words do not serve
"the interests of the existing relations" between the two neighbors.


6. (C) Gargash said Enhanced Iranian rhetoric on three disputed
islands makes little sense since "this problem is 37 years old" and
"the UAE stance on the issue remains unchanged from day one."
Pressed on whether Iran might be serious about reeling back economic
ties with the UAE, Gargash said "mature" bilateral relations quite
naturally involve "areas of agreement and areas of disagreement."
Bilateral cooperation and contact continue in areas of mutual
interest. Pressed on stricter treatment of Iranian nationals at UAE
airports, Gargash cited statistics evidencing that 27 percent of
those arrested for smuggling narcotics into Dubai in 2008 were
Iranians, necessitating particular caution. (Dubai Police Commandant

ABU DHABI 00000130 002.2 OF 002


Dhahi Khalfan recalled to the Ambassador January 28 that he uses this
same rationale to explain strict immigration procedures to Iranian
officials who complain of harassment. Khalfan said much of the trade
was opium intended for personal use, and that Dubai simply refuses
entry to some petty smugglers because it does not have jail space to
house them.)

Comment: Rhetoric evidences real but manageable tension
-------------- --------------


7. (C) While some rhetoric from Tehran is clearly related to
celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the revolution, and election
fever has heightened nationalistic emotions, there is no doubt real
angst underlying the war of words, including over the islands dispute
(which Gargash notably brought to the fore with a rare public comment
on the subject in Tehran at a NAM event in late July [ref D],
followed by a series of verbal exchanges on the islands over the
summer [ref C]). Anecdotes also suggest some redirecting of Iranian
investment out of Dubai (ref B, para 4 notes the diversion of
financial business, presumably due to sanctions). The UAEG is indeed
cracking down on Iranian travel -- often using the narcotics hazard
as a plausible cover story for additional security checks. In a
bilateral relationship squeezed by real world strategic interests,
public perceptions, and a history of careful balancing, the current
verbal battle is not necessarily destined to leave long-term scars,
but neither does it bring long-time neighbors any closer to one
another. End comment.

OLSON