US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT679

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000679 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP/CBM, EUR/PRA, NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2015 
TAGS: ETTC, PARM, PREL, IR, MU, International Relations 
SUBJECT: URGENT PSI REQUEST - NEED FINANCIAL, LEGAL DETAILS 
 
REF: A. MUSCAT 672 
 
     B. STATE 74305 
     C. BERLIN 1356 
     D. RIYADH 2707 
     E. OSLO 588 
     F. MUSCAT 330 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4 (b, d, e). 
 
1. (U) This is an urgent action request for Berlin, Oslo and 
State.  See para 6. 
 
2. (S) Summary: Various sources have indicated that the 
Norwegian captain of the vessel transporting a suspicious 
crane shipment to Iran is contemplating off-loading the goods 
in Oman.  The German Ambassador reported resistance from the 
Omani Foreign Under Secretary April 24 to Omani government 
involvement in seizing the shipment, particularly in light of 
questionable legal grounds and fears of harming bilateral 
relations with Iran.  We plan to meet with the Foreign 
Minister on April 26 to broach the issue of Oman's possible 
cooperation, and anticipate questions about who will incur 
expected costs and whether Oman could be subject to legal 
judgment should it cooperate with the ship's captain.  We 
seek urgent guidance from addressees on this score.  End 
summary. 
 
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Germans Rebuffed in Muscat 
-------------------------- 
 
3. (S) German Ambassador Helmut Blankenstein informed us 
April 25 that he made an oral demarche to MFA Under Secretary 
Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi on April 24 urging Oman's cooperation 
under PSI to interdict the suspicious crane shipment to Iran 
(ref B).  Sayyid Badr, however, was not supportive.  Along 
the lines of the Norwegian government (ref E), Sayyid Badr 
reportedly raised objections that Oman has no apparent legal 
basis to interdict the shipment.  Moreover, in the absence of 
a clear legal mandate, Oman feared that taking action would 
only serve to damage its sensitive relationship with Iran. 
Sayyid Badr was willing to look at any supporting 
documentation that might provide a legal basis for Omani 
action.  (Note: The German Ambassador provided no 
documentation in the meeting, but is requesting it from 
Berlin.  End note.)  The Under Secretary's advice was that 
Germany or other allied nations intercept the shipment in 
international waters.  When the German Ambassador appealed 
for Omani help on the basis of PSI principles, Sayyid Badr 
reportedly replied that Oman is not a party to PSI, however 
much it may support its objectives. 
 
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Captain Willing to Cooperate 
---------------------------- 
 
4. (S) Ambassador Blankenstein shared with us the news that 
his counterpart in Riyadh did not approach the Saudi 
government for assistance while the ship was in port in 
Jeddah (confirmed in ref D).  He expressed his understanding 
(as stated in ref C) that the Norwegian ship captain is, 
however, willing to unload the cargo in Muscat's Port Sultan 
Qaboos should he be asked, though he wondered if Oman, given 
the Under Secretary's position, would be willing to entertain 
that option. 
 
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Anticipated Concerns 
-------------------- 
 
5. (S) As we shared with the Germans, we plan to approach 
Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi 
directly on April 26 to request Oman's cooperation. 
Notwithstanding the Under Secretary's statement on PSI, the 
Minister assured the Ambassador in March (ref F) that Oman 
would consider any PSI request.  But given the very real 
sensitivities about relations with Iran, we anticipate that 
Oman's cooperation (if any) may be limited to merely 
permitting the ship captain to unload his cargo and arrange 
for its return to Europe.  If so, we likewise anticipate that 
Oman will first require iron-clad assurances that a 
responsible party will cover all related expenses.  We made 
this point to the German Ambassador and requested that he 
pursue this point with Berlin.  Oman may likewise raise 
concerns about being embroiled in a legal custody battle 
should it cooperate. 
 
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Action Request 
-------------- 
 
6. (S) In light of the Ambassador's expected demarche to the 
Omani Foreign Minister on April 26, we urgently request any 
information that can be provided to reassure Oman that it 
will not incur financial costs for any cooperation it 
renders, nor will it be subject to legal judgment should the 
Iranian owner or other party file suit.  Our meeting with the 
Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs is scheduled 
for April 26 prior to OOB Washington time. 
BALTIMORE