US embassy cable - 05MANAMA393

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000393 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, EUR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, BA, IR 
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN:  GUIDANCE ON U.S. EFFORTS TO SUPPORT EU-3 
DIPLOMACY ON IRAN 
 
REF: STATE 44486 
 
Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) The Ambassador March 15 delivered reftel demarche 
concerning U.S. efforts to support EU-3 diplomacy on Iran to 
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs/Information Minister 
Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar.  Abdul Ghaffar took note of the 
demarche but had to depart the meeting before he had a chance 
to respond. 
 
2.  (C) The DCM March 16 delivered demarche to MFA Assistant 
Under Secretary for Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul 
Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.  Shaikh Abdul Aziz commented 
that Iran's public response to the U.S. decisions regarding 
the WTO and sale of spare parts for civilian aircraft was 
dismissive.  He wondered if there was a more nuanced private 
response.  The DCM responded that Iran wanted to posture 
publicly on this, but our position is clear:  we support the 
EU negotiations. 
 
3.  (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz said the U.S. position was 
encouraging.  Bahrain wants Iran to "come clean" publicly 
that it has no intention of producing nuclear weapons.  He 
said that Bahrain wants to know what the IAEA's 
recommendations will be on the issue.  It is easier for Iran 
to bow to IAEA pressure than to the EU or U.S.  Shaikh Abdul 
Aziz noted that a French senator had visited Bahrain recently 
and she had spoken forcefully about getting Iran to accept 
the EU requirements.  He continued that Bahrain would 
continue to raise the nuclear issue with the Iranians "every 
chance we have,"  just as Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed 
bin Mubarak Al Khalifa had done during his August 2004 trip 
to Iran. 
 
MONROE