US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4449

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004449 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2015 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, PGOV, IR, IZ, KU, KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS, KUWAIT-IRAN RELATIONS 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENTS ON IRANIAN NUCLEAR 
DEVELOPMENT, EFFECTS OF IRAQI INSTABILITY 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. Summary: (C) During an October 15 meeting with Ambassador, 
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Salem Al-Sabah spoke 
about Iranian unity regarding the development of their 
nuclear program but division regarding the country's public 
handling of the situation. He reported that the Iranian chief 
nuclear negotiator would soon be sacked. On Iraq, he added 
that Iran stood to benefit from the lack of Arab involvement 
and that an Arab League delegation would make an upcoming 
trip to Baghdad despite ongoing violence. End summary. 
 
Iran: No Division Regarding Right to Pursue Nuclear Weapons 
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2. (C) According to Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohmammed 
Al-Salem Al-Sabah, former Iranian President Hashemi 
Rafsanjani criticized newly elected President Mahmoud 
Ahmadinejad's handling of their nuclear development program. 
While there is no division among Iranians regarding their 
right to pursue nuclear weapons, the FM explained, they are 
torn over how to handle the situation. "Under (President 
Mohammed) Khatami, we didn't see this division; there was 
more unified public support," he stated. The "new guy," he 
stated, "is making grandiose statements" about Iran's 
program, agitating the international community. Shaykh Dr. 
Mohammed shared that "rumor has it Ahmadinejad will replace" 
his chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, after India voted 
at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to refer 
Iran to the UN Security Council. The negotiator, the FM 
reported, apparently had told Ahmadinejad that India was 
guaranteed to vote in Iran's favor at the IAEA. 
 
Iraq: Iran Benefits from Instability, Moussa to Travel 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
3. (C) At the next Organization of Islamic Conferences summit 
in Mecca in late November, Iraq's neighbors may hold a side 
meeting to discuss Iraqi instability, the FM reported. "Iran 
stands to benefit from the lack of Arab involvement in Iraq," 
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed warned. An attack on a recent Arab League 
(AL) delegation to Baghdad resulted in the death of two Iraqi 
security forces. This ongoing violence, the FM added, is why 
AL Secretary General Amr Moussa would not release the exact 
date of his upcoming travel to Baghdad although the FM 
predicted Moussa's arrival on October 17. Regarding Iraq's 
constitutional referendum, Ambassador reminded the FM of the 
importance of public remarks from Iraq's friends and 
neighbors lauding positive steps Iraq has taken. The FM 
shared that the Council of Ministers would likely issue a 
statement October 16. 
 
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LEBARON