(U) RE-RELEASE: IRANIAN ACTIVITY IN YEMEN

S E C R E T STATE 086584 NOFORN SIPDIS CLASSIFICATION CHANGE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2034 TAGS: PINR IR YM SUBJECT: (U) RE-RELEASE: IRANIAN ACTIVITY IN YEMEN (C-NE9-01257) Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE INTERESTED IN IRANIAN PRESENCE AND ACTIVITIES IN YEMEN, AND POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS TO UNREST THERE, IN RESPONSE TO POLICYMAKER INTEREST. AS POSTS' TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON IRAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH AND INTENTIONS TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT, HUTHI REBELS, AND/OR THE SECESSIONIST GROUPS IN THE SOUTH WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE, AS WOULD INFORMATION ON CULTURAL, BUSINESS, AND RELIGIOUS TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THE QUESTIONS BELOW. MANY THANKS. ¶A. (S/REL AUS) WHAT IS IRAN'S CURRENT FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS YEMEN? 1) (S/REL AUS) WHAT IS IRAN,S SUPPORT, IF ANY, FOR PRESIDENT SALEH'S GOVERNMENT? A) (S/REL AUS) HOW DID IRANIAN LEADERS VIEW FOREIGN MINISTER MOTTAKI'S VISIT TO YEMEN IN JUNE? POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY? WHAT WAS DISCUSSED BETWEEN MOTTAKI AND YEMENI OFFICIALS? WHAT WERE YEMEN'S VIEWS OF MOTTAKI'S VISIT? 2) (S/REL AUS) WHAT LINKS, IF ANY, DOES IRAN HAVE WITH HUTHI REBELS? A) (S/REL AUS) WHAT SUPPORT, IF ANY, DOES IRAN PROVIDE TO THE HUTHIS? B) (S/NF) ARE ANY IRANIANS TRAVELING INTO HUTHI-CONTROLLED TERRITORY? IF SO, WHO AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE? 3) (S/REL AUS) WHAT INDICATIONS ARE THERE, IF ANY, THAT IRAN IS IN CONTACT WITH OR SUPPORTING SECESSIONIST GROUPS IN THE SOUTH? ¶B. (S/REL AUS) WHAT ARE IRANIAN DECISIONMAKERS, VIEWS OF STABILITY IN YEMEN? WHAT ARE THEIR VIEWS ON EFFORTS BY OTHER GOVERNMENTS, ESPECIALLY SAUDI ARABIA, IN YEMEN? ¶C. (S/REL AUS) WHAT IS THE MOIS PRESENCE IN YEMEN? THE IRGC PRESENCE, IF ANY? PLEASE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL PRESENCE, IF POSSIBLE. ¶D. (U) WHAT MILITARY TIES EXIST BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS? 1) (S/REL AUS) WHAT, IF ANY, TRAINING IS IRAN PROVIDING TO YEMEN'S MILITARY? 2) (U) WHAT, IF ANY, MILITARY SALES EXIST OR ARE PLANNED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES? ¶E. (U) WHAT BANKING OR BUSINESS DEALS ARE OCCURRING BETWEEN IRAN AND YEMEN? AS POSSIBLE, PLEASE PROVIDE AMOUNTS OF MONEY INVOLVED, PROGRESS AND DETAILS OF BUSINESS AGREEMENTS, COMPANIES INVOLVED, ETC. ¶F. (U) WHAT, IF ANY, CULTURAL CENTERS OR OTHER CULTURAL EXCHANGES HAS IRAN ESTABLISHED IN YEMEN? 1) (S/REL AUS) WHAT INDICATIONS ARE THERE, IF ANY, THAT THESE CULTURAL LINKS ARE COVER FOR MOIS OR IRGC ACTIVITY? ¶G. (U) WHAT INFORMATION IS THERE ON PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN IRAN AND YEMEN? ¶H. (U) WHAT, IF ANY, IRANIAN NGOS ARE PRESENT IN YEMEN? (FOR EXAMPLE, THE RED CRESCENT.) ¶I. (U) WHAT ARE THE VIEWS OF YEMEN'S SHIA TOWARDS IRAN? WHAT ARE THE VIEWS OF YEMEN'S SUNNIS TOWARDS IRAN? ¶J. (U) WHAT CONNECTIONS ARE THERE, IF ANY, BETWEEN IRANIAN RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOLARS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN YEMEN? ¶K. (S/REL AUS) WHAT ARE YEMEN'S LEADERS' VIEWS OF IRAN? HOW DO THEY EVALUATE IRAN'S POLICY, PRESENCE, AND EFFORTS IN YEMEN? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-NE9-01257 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON