GOK QUIETLY CONCERNED ABOUT IRANIAN ENRICHMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000161 SIPDIS NEA/ARP, NEA/RA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2020 TAGS: PREL KNNP MNUC PARM IR KU SUBJECT: GOK QUIETLY CONCERNED ABOUT IRANIAN ENRICHMENT PLANS REF: A. STATE 15979 ¶B. KUWAIT 137 Classified By: POLITICAL Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. PolCouns on February 23 raised ref a points regarding USG policy on Iran's Tehran research reactor with Counselor Rashid Al-Hajiri, MFA's desk officer for Iran. Al-Hajiri offered no substantive response to our points, noting merely that the GOK has been following the issue through its representative to the IAEA. Al-Hajiri added that the GOK shares USG concerns about the lack of transparency in Iran's nuclear program and regularly encourages Iran to comply with international safeguards. At the same time, Al-Hajiri said, the GOK hopes that the international community can persuade Iran to come into compliance through peaceful dialogue rather than through expanded sanctions. ¶2. Comment: Al-Hajiri's tepid response to our demarche reflects the overall GOK approach to Iran which, as noted Ref B, consists of quietly urging Tehran to abide by IAEA safeguards while maintaining a friendly relationship with its much larger and more powerful neighbor. Trapped in a difficult neighborhood, the GOK will welcome any proposals that can move Iran off its nuclear path -- including IAEA proposals noted ref A to ensure that Iran receives needed medical isotopes -- but will not expose itself to Iranian ire by getting out front to push for these. Emblematic of Kuwait's position was the statement by Deputy PM and FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Al Sabah February 22, who told the local press that "We wish our friends (in Iran) can do their best to reassure the international community about the Iranian nuclear program so that there will not be an excuse for imposing sanctions. There are wise people in Iran," he added, continuing to call on Iran to abide by the requirments of international legitimacy and the IAEA. End Comment. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* WILLIAMS