MFA MINSTATE TO A/AS FELTMAN: IRAN WILL NOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000417

C O R R E C T E D COPY TEXT PARA 6

SIPDIS

NEA/FO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV IR SU QA
SUBJECT: MFA MINSTATE TO A/AS FELTMAN: IRAN WILL NOT
ABANDON QUEST FOR NUKES UNLESS IN RESPONSE TO "BIG PRIZE"
FROM THE WEST

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Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b and d).

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(C) KEY POINTS
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-- Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs
Jeffrey Feltman, accompanied by Ambassador, stressed in his
June 16 meeting with MFA Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Ahmed Al Mahmoud that POTUS wants a comprehensive
relationship with Qatar. Al Mahmoud agreed, saying that a
strategic dialogue could begin at whatever level the U.S.
wished, as the two countries were "working toward one end."

-- AA/S Feltman noted that the United States had not yet
taken a decision on strategic dialogues in general, but that
strategic consultations can begin at once.

-- AA/S Feltman stressed that POTUS is committed to a
comprehensive Middle East peace, noting that this would
require compromise on both sides and expressing concern that
Al Jazeera is not contributing to a spirit of compromise. Al
Mahmoud replied that the Qataris had problems with the
network, too.

-- Al Mahmoud said that Iran would not stop short of
acquiring nuclear weapons unless in response to Western
recognition of Iran as a regional superpower. Such an end,
he said, would leave the GCC states as nothing more than a
pool of assets at Iran's disposal.

End Key Points.


1. (C) On June 16, accompanied by Ambassador, Staff
Assistant, and Poloff, AA/S Jeffrey Feltman met with Qatari
MFA Minstate for Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al
Mahmoud. Also present in the meeting on the Qatari side were
the Foreign Minister's Assistant for Follow-Up Affairs
Mohammad Al-Rumaihi and MFA Director of European and American
Affairs Adel Al Khal.

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AL MAHMOUD: QATAR AND U.S ARE WORKING TOWARD THE SAME END
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2. (C) AA/S Feltman began the meeting by thanking Al Mahmoud
for receiving him and by noting that he had just met with the
PM. He stressed that the United States wanted a
constructive, comprehensive relationship with Qatar, and that
S had directed him to come to Doha on this, his first trip to
the Gulf. Al Mahmoud said that the POTUS speech in Cairo was
excellent and that it raised expectations in each of the
seven areas it addressed.


3. (C) On the issue of the proposed strategic dialogue
between the U.S. and Qatar, the Minister of State said that
it should begin at whatever level the U.S. thought best,
since "we are working together toward one end." AA/S Feltman
said that the USG had not yet made a decision on the issue of
strategic dialogues globally, but that strategic
consultations should begin at all levels right away. Such
consultations would involve sharing insights on a full range
of issues.

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THE COMMITMENT TO A COMPREHENSIVE MIDDLE EAST PEACE
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4. (C) AA/S Feltman said that POTUS was committed to
achieving a comprehensive Middle East peace. He stressed
that this process would require a great deal of compromise on
both sides, and that Doha-based Al Jazeera television was not
helping move public opinion in the Arab world in a direction
that would foster a spirit of compromise. Al Mahmoud replied
that Qatar had problems with Al Jazeera, too, and that
perhaps the network was just playing to its audience.

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IRAN SEEKS REGIONAL SUPERPOWER STATUS
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5. (C) AA/S Feltman asked the Minstate for his insights on
Iran. The Minstate stressed that Iran had the right to
nuclear technology for civilian applications, but that it
would not stop short of acquiring nuclear weapons unless it
was in response "to a big prize from the West." When asked
what that prize might be, Al Mahmoud replied that Iran wanted

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to be recognized as a regional superpower, with the right to
extract such concessions such as the withdrawal of Western
forces from the region. Under such a scenario, the GCC would
merely be a pool of resources for Iran. He predicted that
"we will see within a year what they have (in the way of
nuclear technology)."


6. (C) Al-Mahmoud urged that the U.S. not place too much
significance on the current demonstrations in Iran. He
stressed that demonstrations were taking place only in
Tehran, "where they want change." He noted that there were
no demonstrations in the provinces, "where they need
Ahmedinejad." Al-Mahmoud said that he did not expect a
second Ahmedinejad administration to differ from the first,
as the Iranian President would see the election result as an
affirmation of his policies.


7. (C) When AA/S asked what approach the West should take in
dealing with Iran, Al-Mahmoud suggested that the time had
come to ask Iran directly what it wanted. He said that any
approach would have to be carried out in close coordination
with the Gulf states, and he criticized the Europeans for
offering security guarantees to Iran without first consulting
the GCC states. He cautioned, however, that Iran always
pocketed concessions and asked for more.


8. (C) Al-Mahmoud said that it was too early to tell whether
Iran had changed its policies as a result of the recent POTUS
speech in Cairo, and that Qatar had not had any close
consultations with Iran since that time. He stressed that
Iran would seek actions, not words, from the President.


9. (C) AA/S Feltman noted that Iran had changed its behavior
in Iraq. Al-Mahmoud agreed, but noted that Iran did whatever
was necessary at the moment to increase its influence.

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SUDAN: A MODEL FOR U.S.-QATAR COOPERATION
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10. (C) AA/S Feltman applauded Al-Mahmoud for Qatar's
diplomacy on Sudan. Al Mahmoud noted that he had talked with
SE Scott Gration the night before, and that they were
cooperating closely. AA/S Feltman said that U.S.-Qatar
cooperation on Sudan was a model for how the two countries
could work together toward common goals. He reiterated that
such cooperation should take place on many issues and at many
levels.


11. (C) On the current status of peace negotiations in Sudan,
Al Mahmoud said that the Sudanese government and the rebel
groups were currently at an impasse over which came first:
the release of prisoners or the declaration of a
cease-fire.

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GULF AND REGIONAL ISSUES
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12. (C) Minstate Al Mahmoud said that, at present, Qatar had
virtually no trade with Bahrain, but predicted that the
causeway that will link the two would change that. When AA/S
Feltman asked if there were plans to eventually supply
Bahrain with natural gas, Al Mahmoud said no; Qatar's exports
of LNG were already under contract for delivery to the U.S
and the UK.


13. (C) Al Mahmoud said that Qatar has no agenda for its
current presidency of the Arab League. He pointed out that
Qatar had asked Jordanian King Abdullah II to speak on behalf
of the Arabs during his recent trip to Washington. "If the
Arabs want us to do more, we will" he said.


14. (C) On Lebanon, Al Mahmoud said that everyone accepted
the results of the recent elections. He added that the
composition of the new government was a matter for the
Lebanese people to decide.


15. (C) On Iraq, Al Mahmoud said that the government should
reflect balance between Sunni and Shi'a, and not be dominated
by the Shi'a.


16. (C) AA/S Feltman has cleared this message.

LeBaron