IRANIAN NAVAL VISIT TO QATAR COINCIDES WITH ANNUAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000064

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2020
TAGS: PREL MARR IR QA
SUBJECT: IRANIAN NAVAL VISIT TO QATAR COINCIDES WITH ANNUAL
U.S.-ISLAMIC FORUM

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

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(C) KEY POINTS
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-- An Iranian war vessel and naval support vessel docked in
the Port of Doha February 13 for a four-day port call
coinciding with the dates of the annual U.S.-Islamic Forum.
Both Secretary Clinton and Senator Kerry (D-MA) delivered
public remarks at the Forum.

-- 300 cadets aboard the support vessel toured the Qatari
naval facility as part of the visit.

-- According to a military source, the Iranian visit is an
outcome of the July visit to Tehran by Qatar's Armed Forces
Chief of Staff.

-- According to navy sources, it has been over ten years
since the last port call by Iranian navy vessels.

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(C) COMMENTS
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-- Both the Secretary and Senator Kerry spoke about the
Iranian nuclear program in their speeches at the Forum, but
given the last-minute decision by Secretary Clinton to
participate in the Forum, we do not believe the Iranian naval
visit was arranged with her presence in mind.

-- This is not the first time the Qataris have given Iran a
spotlight on an otherwise U.S. stage, however. When Treasury
Secretary Paulson visited in May 2008, Qatar announced the
same day that the sole authorized Iranian bank in Qatar could
open a second branch. (The Iranians had been pressing to open
more banks, not just a branch for the existing bank.)

-- As in the Treasury example, the coincidental treatment
afforded to Iran on the margins of this high-level USG visit
is of little substance and offers another example of Qatar's
careful balancing of its public relations with the U.S. and
Iran.

-- Another element downplaying the importance of this naval
visit is the absence from Doha of the head of Qatar's navy,
who is currently on a long-scheduled trip abroad.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (U) An Iranian missile Corvette and a logistical support
vessel arrived February 13 at the Port of Doha. The vessels'
arrival coincided with the opening of the annual U.S.-Islamic
Forum, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
organized by Brookings. The ships are scheduled to leave Doha
on February 17, the day after the Forum closes. Both
Secretary Clinton and Senator John Kerry (D-MA),the Chairman
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered speeches
at the Forum.


2. (C) According to a contact of the Defense Attache Office,
the visit was scheduled several months ago and is an outcome
of Qatari Armed Forces Chief of Staff Al-Attiyah's July visit
to Tehran. The 300 Iranian cadets who arrived on the support
vessel toured the Qatari naval facility, suggesting that the
visit had been planned for some time. They were not received
by Brigadier-General Mohammed Al Muhannadi, the commander of
the Qatari navy, who is currently on a previously-scheduled
trip abroad.


3. (U) DAO will provide other details on the visit SEPTEL.

Lebaron