Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUDHABI861
2009-08-31 08:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE NERVOUS ABOUT IRAN REGIONAL PRESENCE OFFICE DUBAI
how-toINFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 PERC-00 DS-00 VCI-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 MOFM-00 MOF-00 M-00 VCIE-00 NSAE-00 ISN-00 ISNE-00 FMPC-00 SSO-00 SS-00 R-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 SCA-00 SAS-00 FA-00 SWCI-00 SANA-00 P 310838Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2880 INFO IRAN COLLECTIVE AMCONSUL DUBAI RPO DUBAI
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000861
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2018
TAGS: PREL AE IR
SUBJECT: UAE NERVOUS ABOUT IRAN REGIONAL PRESENCE OFFICE DUBAI
Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000861
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2018
TAGS: PREL AE IR
SUBJECT: UAE NERVOUS ABOUT IRAN REGIONAL PRESENCE OFFICE DUBAI
Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In a 30 August meeting Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Anwar Gargash raised with Ambassador the status of the Iran Regional
Presence Office (IRPO) in Dubai. He said that the UAEG was getting
"a lot of flak" about the office, noting that IRPO's name had come
out in the recent show trials in Tehran and subsequent press
reporting. (He did no say explicitly who the flak throwers were, but
clearly he was referring to the Iranian Government.)
2. (C) He said the USG needed to be careful about IRPO "statements,"
and cautioned against having Dubai appear as a backdrop for any media
interviews. Ambassador pointed out that there were no IRPO
"statements" or media outreach. Ambassador pointed out that IRPO's
only public diplomacy activities consisted of facilitating exchanges
and reassured Gargash that IRPO's instructions were to maintain a low
public profile. Gargash expressed appreciation for the assurance and
said that a low key approach was important, because the debate in
Iran was an internal matter, and the UAEG thought that US efforts to
stay out of it, and not become the scapegoat, were the correct
policy.
3. (C) Comment: The tone of the conversation was cordial, but the
message was clear that the UAEG is worried about the reaction of its
big neighbor to our Iran-watching office in Dubai. This inquiry was
a more pointed version of an inquiry from Abu Dhabi Crown Prince
Shaykh Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ),who asked about the status of IRPO
during the course of the visit of A/S Vershbow and A/S Shapiro in
July.
OLSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2018
TAGS: PREL AE IR
SUBJECT: UAE NERVOUS ABOUT IRAN REGIONAL PRESENCE OFFICE DUBAI
Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In a 30 August meeting Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Anwar Gargash raised with Ambassador the status of the Iran Regional
Presence Office (IRPO) in Dubai. He said that the UAEG was getting
"a lot of flak" about the office, noting that IRPO's name had come
out in the recent show trials in Tehran and subsequent press
reporting. (He did no say explicitly who the flak throwers were, but
clearly he was referring to the Iranian Government.)
2. (C) He said the USG needed to be careful about IRPO "statements,"
and cautioned against having Dubai appear as a backdrop for any media
interviews. Ambassador pointed out that there were no IRPO
"statements" or media outreach. Ambassador pointed out that IRPO's
only public diplomacy activities consisted of facilitating exchanges
and reassured Gargash that IRPO's instructions were to maintain a low
public profile. Gargash expressed appreciation for the assurance and
said that a low key approach was important, because the debate in
Iran was an internal matter, and the UAEG thought that US efforts to
stay out of it, and not become the scapegoat, were the correct
policy.
3. (C) Comment: The tone of the conversation was cordial, but the
message was clear that the UAEG is worried about the reaction of its
big neighbor to our Iran-watching office in Dubai. This inquiry was
a more pointed version of an inquiry from Abu Dhabi Crown Prince
Shaykh Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ),who asked about the status of IRPO
during the course of the visit of A/S Vershbow and A/S Shapiro in
July.
OLSON