US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT672

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000672 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NP/CBM, EUR/PRA, AND NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2015 
TAGS: ETTC, PARM, PREL, IR, MU, International Relations 
SUBJECT: URGENT:  PSI:  U.S. ASSISTANCE IN STOPPING GERMAN 
CRANE SHIPMENT TO IRAN  (S) 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 74305 
 
     B. BERLIN 1338 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4 (b, d, e) 
 
1. (S) German Ambassador Hartmut Blankenstein confirmed to us 
mid-day on April 24 that he had not yet approached the Omani 
government with a demarche to interdict the crane shipment 
for Iran (ref A).  As reported ref B, the instructions from 
Berlin were transmitted after close of business on April 20, 
which was the start of a 3-day religious holiday weekend 
during which all Omani government offices were closed.  He 
indicated he would ask to see MFA Under Secretary Sayyid Badr 
al-Busaidi as soon as possible to deliver the demarche, and 
would inform us afterwards of the response. 
 
2. (C) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin 
Alawi returns to his office on April 25 following lengthy 
travels through the region and to Asia.  We are seeking an 
appointment for the Ambassador to call on him at the earliest 
opportunity on April 26 to deliver the parallel U.S. 
demarche. 
BALTIMORE