Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DOHA454
2009-07-15 12:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

CROWN PRINCE ON QATAR'S RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN

Tags:  PREL QA IR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDO #0454/01 1961251
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151251Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9236
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000454 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2019
TAGS: PREL QA IR
SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE ON QATAR'S RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN

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

--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------

-- In a July 14th meeting with Qatar's Crown Prince,
Ambassador noted that Qatar's Chief of Staff for the Armed
Forces had visited post-election Iran and that Iran's
Parliament Speaker had traveled to Doha.

-- Tamim said the previously scheduled visit by the Chief of
Staff had been long arranged, and it would have been
"insulting to the Iranians" to cancel it.

-- On the Iranian election, Tamim said Iran's government and
Iranian protesters had both crossed "red lines" following the
election results. He noted that some of the results were
released earlier than usual, suggesting some manipulation of
them.

-- On Qatar's relationship with Iran, Tamim said engaging
with Iran is better than isolating Iran. Qatar, which shares
large natural gas reserves with Iran under the Gulf, has
benefited from the bilateral dialogue established under
former Iranian President Khatami.

-- That said, the Crown Prince stressed that maintaining the
strategic relationship with the United States is the "number
one priority" and that Qatar "will never change" that
alignment.

-- The Crown Prince said the Amir plans to travel to New
York for the opening of the UN General Assembly and hopes
that President Obama will be able to meet with him at that
time.

------------
(C) COMMENTS
------------

-- We strongly recommend that President Obama meet with the
Amir on the margins of the UNGA in New York. Even a
relatively short meeting would do much to advance and deepen
the bilateral relationship.

End Key Points and Comments.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000454

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2019
TAGS: PREL QA IR
SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE ON QATAR'S RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN

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

--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------

-- In a July 14th meeting with Qatar's Crown Prince,
Ambassador noted that Qatar's Chief of Staff for the Armed
Forces had visited post-election Iran and that Iran's
Parliament Speaker had traveled to Doha.

-- Tamim said the previously scheduled visit by the Chief of
Staff had been long arranged, and it would have been
"insulting to the Iranians" to cancel it.

-- On the Iranian election, Tamim said Iran's government and
Iranian protesters had both crossed "red lines" following the
election results. He noted that some of the results were
released earlier than usual, suggesting some manipulation of
them.

-- On Qatar's relationship with Iran, Tamim said engaging
with Iran is better than isolating Iran. Qatar, which shares
large natural gas reserves with Iran under the Gulf, has
benefited from the bilateral dialogue established under
former Iranian President Khatami.

-- That said, the Crown Prince stressed that maintaining the
strategic relationship with the United States is the "number
one priority" and that Qatar "will never change" that
alignment.

-- The Crown Prince said the Amir plans to travel to New
York for the opening of the UN General Assembly and hopes
that President Obama will be able to meet with him at that
time.

--------------
(C) COMMENTS
--------------

-- We strongly recommend that President Obama meet with the
Amir on the margins of the UNGA in New York. Even a
relatively short meeting would do much to advance and deepen
the bilateral relationship.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (C) In a July 14 meeting, Ambassador asked Crown Prince
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for his views on Iran following the
recent Iranian presidential elections. Noting that Qatar's
Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces had visited post-election
Iran and Iran's Parliament Speaker had traveled to Doha,
Ambassador asked how the United States should interpret these
actions.


2. (C) Tamim responded that he had told the Chief of Staff
not to delay his trip to Tehran because of the election
turmoil. The previously scheduled visit had been long
arranged, and it would have been "insulting to the Iranians"

to cancel it.


3. (C) Tamim underscored the importance to Qatar of having a
"bridge" to Iran, noting that Qatar has benefited from having
that bridge ever since former Iranian President Khatami
opened a dialogue. Qatar, he maintained, has been "open with
Iran," which is a big and important nation. Although Qatar
and Iran disagree about many things, it is "better to get
them on board than leave them alone."


4. (C) On the election, Tamim said Qatar disagreed with the
way some Arab states had "interfered" in the Iranian election
process. He said when a country like Iran is "bleeding," it
is "not good to interfere at that stage." Washington, he
said, should see Qatar's relationship with Iran as one of two
neighboring countries that share vital natural gas reserves
under the Gulf. The Iranians "appreciate that we remain
committed neighbors."


5. (C) Tamim noted that the results were released on Friday
night, not on Saturday or Sunday as is normal in Iran. Tamim
said there were many "question marks" about the election
results and the manipulation of them. The "Iranian
Government crossed some red lines after the elections," in
confronting its people. Iran has its own internal problems,
but things could change for the better in Iran. Tamim said
he expected "many changes in Iran "between now and the next
election."


6. (C) Asked for his take on the continuing demonstrations,
Tamim said it is "rubbish" that outside actors are behind the
demonstrations in Iran. Returning to the crossing of "red

DOHA 00000454 002 OF 002


lines" in Iran, Tamim noted that demonstrators' chanting
"Death to Khamenei" was one such instance. Another was the
protesters' refusal to stop demonstrating after Khamenei
publicly called for an end to such displays.

--------------
U.S. IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE
--------------


7. (C) Ambassador asked the Crown Prince what he should tell
Washington about Qatar's relationship with Iran. Tamim
responded without hesitation, "Tell them there is no change.
Having strategic relations with the United States is the
number one priority for us. From our side, this will never
change." While the United States and Qatar may disagree on
issues, such as having relations with Iran, "Qatar's
boycotting Iran will not hurt Iran but will hurt Qatar --
including our shared gas supply." Tamim closed by saying
that "in the future" Qatar might be able to help the U.S.
dialogue with Iran.


8. (C) Ambassador asked if the Amir intended to travel to New
York for the opening of the UN General Assembly. The Crown
Prince said in response, "so far he is definitely going."
Tamim said the Amir would welcome the opportunity to meet
with President Obama on the margins of the UNGA. He added
that President Obama "would benefit from the Amir's realistic
point of view from our work on the ground with several
parties" in the Middle East.

LeBaron