VZCZCXRO5235
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #1541/01 2941446
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 211446Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0161
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1037
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 1077
RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA PRIORITY 2407
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 2454

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001541 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/IR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2027 
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR KU KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN AFFAIRS MP SOUNDS ALARM BELL ON IRAN 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 781 
     ¶B. KUWAIT 486 
     ¶C. KUWAIT 50 
 
Classified By: CDA Alan Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
¶1.  (C) On October 3, in separate conversations with Post, 
Kuwaiti MP Mohammad Jassem Al-Sager and MFA Director of Arab 
World Department Ambassador Jassem Al Mubaraki relayed their 
grave concerns that Iran is leading the region towards 
conflict.  Though they acknowledged that the removal of 
Saddam Hussein was a positive step, both were critical of the 
perceived USG lack of post-war planning in Iraq and said this 
had unleashed Iran, "the monster in the cage."  In order to 
counter what he deems unsatisfactory progress on Iran, 
Al-Sager will call on regional Arab leaders to unify and 
collectively pressure the Iranians to engage in peaceful 
multilateral talks.  End summary. 
 
Kuwaitis worried, very worried over Iran 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) The Chairman of Kuwaiti Parliament's Foreign Affairs 
Committee, liberal MP Mohammad Jassem Al-Sager, declared in 
an October 2 news article entitled, "We are Worried, Very 
Worried," that Kuwaitis are increasingly concerned about 
Iran.  He noted that Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal 
said after a UNGA meeting with Secretary Rice that a 
confrontation is "definitely coming."  Al-Sager's assessment 
in the article was that this is especially troubling because 
the Saudi FM is known for his calm demeanor and care in 
choosing his words.  He commmented that the FM is normally 
reluctant to voice doubts publicly, and is usually optimistic 
that ways out of crises can always be found.  While Al-Sager 
is solidly pro-American, in the article he expressed doubt in 
the ability of the United States to handle the crisis. 
Predictions of impending military clashes are not new to the 
Kuwaiti newspapers (refs B and C), but Al-Sager's position as 
head of the Foreign Affairs Committee makes his remarks 
especially significant.  Al-Sager urged Kuwaitis not to 
continue to ignore the issue and called for greater unity 
among the Arab states in standing up to Iran.  He also warned 
that suspension of Kuwait's constitution or institutions 
would weaken its ability to face the challenge of Iran. 
 
Monster in the cage unleashed 
----------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) In an October 3 meeting with Charge and visiting 
NEA/ARP Deputy Director, Al Sager said that there is no 
security in the region.  He assessed that though the U.S. 
removal of the Taleban and Saddam Hussein regimes were very 
positive steps, lack of post-war planning has resulted in the 
unleashing of Iran, the "monster in the cage."  He added that 
Kuwait is "scared to death" of Iran. 
 
Arab-Iranian summit? 
-------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) While lamenting the lack of GCC and regional cohesion 
in a policy against Iran, Al Sager told emboffs and NEA/ARP 
Deputy that he is launching an initiative to move from 
bilateral talks with Iran to a multilateral dialogue.  He 
aims to gather senior Arab and Iranian officials in Kuwait to 
"pressure" the Iranians to concede to the wishes of the 
international community.  The dialogue will focus on two 
issues:  Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, and Iran's unique 
involvement in the region, notably in Iraq, and with the 
Palestinians and the Lebanese.  According to Al Sager, the 
Iranian response to this initiative is very warm, while the 
Arab response is typically hesitant.  He promised that most 
of the sessions would be open to the public and would likely 
take place in January 2008. 
 
GOK view on Iran 
----------------- 
 
¶5. (C) In a similar conversation with MFA Director of Arab 
World Department Ambassador Jassem Al Mubaraki, also on 
October 3, Al-Mubaraki provided the standard GOK policy 
soundbyte regarding Iran:  The GOK prefers the diplomatic 
option in terms of dealing with Iran and is opposed to 
 
KUWAIT 00001541  002 OF 002 
 
 
military action.  Echoing Al-Sager's remarks, he said that 
Kuwait is afraid of Iran and possible pending military 
confrontation.  He added that Iran is engaged in unacceptable 
behavior and the region needs a respite from the present 
levels of tension.  He added that the US/EU diplomatic 
initiatives were not sufficient and that Iran was exploiting 
the current state of international disunity. 
 
¶6. (C) Al-Mubaraki added that GOK will support UN Security 
Council resolutions against Iran.  He called on the USG to 
exert more pressure to bring around Russia and China, and 
commended both the German and French approach.  He cited the 
lucrative trade between Iran and China as the major obstacle 
in developing an international consensus on Iran. 
 
Stable Iraq = stable region 
------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Al-Mubaraki stated that the best countermeasure to 
Iran is a peaceful and stable Iraq.  Meanwhile, he added, 
Iran is now claiming Bahrain as part of Iran and is spending 
great amounts of money to buy the loyalty of the Bahrainis. 
He also said that his personal friend, King Hamad Bin Isa 
Al-Khalifa of Bahrain (Note:  Al-Mubaraki was recently 
Kuwait's ambassador to Bahrain), told him that Iran is the 
biggest challenge in the region. 
 
Don't exclude Syria 
-------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Al-Mubaraki said that Syria is playing into Iran's 
hands now, but will side with its Arab neighbors if it can 
see that this is in its interest.  He added, without 
elaboration, that the Syrian government needs assurances of 
security.  If provided, he suggested that Syria will play a 
greater, more positive role.  He exhorted the USG not to 
"exclude Syria" from discussions and clarified that such 
isolation of Syria results only in embarrassing the regional 
moderate states.  (Comment:  The wistful desire to see 
brother Arab state Syria wrested from Iran's orbit by 
conciliatory American diplomacy, rather than by coordinated 
Arab/international pressure, is widely shared among our GOK 
interlocutors.  End Comment.) 
 
 
 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
MISENHEIMER