VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKU #0161 0541328
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231328Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4658
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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.
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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
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WILLIAMS