This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000562 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2016 
TAGS: PREL KNNP IR QA UNSC
SUBJECT: U/S JOSEPH MEETING ON IRAN WITH MINISTER OF STATE 
FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
 
REF: DOHA 558 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (S) Summary. Undersecretary for Arms Control and 
International Security Robert Joseph told Minister of State 
for Foreign Affairs Ahmed al-Mahmoud that Iran was 
approaching the "point of no return" on its nuclear program, 
after which it will be much more difficult and costly to stop 
the country from building a weapon. Mahmoud said that "people 
on the street" question U.S. policy in the region because of 
recent cooperation with India and ending support for the 
Palestinian Authority. He said Qatar wants a peaceful, 
political solution with Iran that does not jeopardize its 
bright economic future. We don't know what to do, he said. He 
also expressed the concern that reports of a U.S. dialogue 
with Iran in Baghdad could undermine Qatar if it were to take 
a tougher line. See reftel for U/S Joseph's meeting with 
Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Undersecretary Robert Joseph, accompanied by Admiral 
Robert Moeller, NSC staff assistant Nikhil Ramchand, and 
Ambassador Untermeyer met with Minister of State for Foreign 
Affairs Ahmed al-Mahmoud April 10 to discuss Iran. Al-Mahmoud 
was accompanied by the Assistant Minister for Follow-Up 
Affairs, Mohamed al-Rumaihy; the director of the Office of 
International Organizations and Treaties, Adel al-Khal; and 
the assistant director of the Office of American and European 
Affairs. The meeting was followed later that evening by a 
meeting with Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, at 
the urging of Ambassador Untermeyer (reftel). 
 
¶3. (S) U/S Joseph said that Iran is indeed pursuing a weapons 
development program, despite what Iranian officials are 
saying. The evidence is with the IAEA and is also shown by 
Iran's centrifuges and large quantities of uranium 
hexafluoride. Iran's actions are associated with pursuing a 
weapons program. Iran is dangerous for this reason and also 
because of its actions in Iraq and its support for terrorism 
in the region. 
 
¶4. (S) The U.S. is working hard to make diplomacy successful, 
the Undersecretary said. The next step is a Chapter 7 finding 
by the UN Security Council followed by possible sanctions. 
But we need to work in other areas as well to show the 
Iranians that the U.S. and Gulf states stand together. 
Actions could include an interdiction program; Gulf security 
meetings; and deployment of defensive radar systems. "We need 
to make it clear that if they close the straits, there will 
be serious consequences," Joseph said. 
 
¶5. (S) Mahmoud gave a read-out of the visit the previous day 
of Dr. Ali Larjani, Secretary General of Iran's Supreme 
National Security Council. Mahmoud said that Larjani 
explained the history of Iran's nuclear program going back to 
the time of the Shah. Larjani said that enrichment is Iran's 
"right" under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but that 
Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons. Mahmoud was of the 
opinion that based on Larjani's tone, "it seems they're 
insisting to enrich." Qatari officials explained their 
concerns about leaks or an accident at the Bushehr facility; 
Larjani said Iran is taking 'strong measures' to prevent an 
accident. Larjani said that Iran is willing to comply with 
the IAEA but not endlessly without a limit. Iran is looking 
for a politcal, rather than 'legal,' solution to the crisis, 
Mahmoud reported. 
 
¶6. (S) Mahmoud reported that Larjani used the "what about 
Israel" argument to question why his country is the target of 
international pressure. U/S Joseph replied that Iran had 
threatened to "wipe Israel off the map," making it a threat 
to international security. Israel is not a signatory to the 
NPT, whereas Iran is in non-compliance with this 
international agreement. 
 
¶7. (S) People "on the street" also question U.S. policy 
toward Iran, Mahmoud said, implying that the Qatari 
government must factor in these considerations. He mentioned 
proposed nuclear cooperation with India and U.S. policy 
toward the Hamas government in Palestine as two examples with 
inherent contradictions. "For every point, there is a 
response," U/S Joseph replied. 
 
¶8. (S) Mahmoud said Qatar wants the crisis to be solved 
politically and peacefully. "We don't know what to do: We 
want to live in peace and build our future.... Who will 
protect us?" He explained that Qatar has to be careful of 
Iran, its largest neighbor. At the same time, "We have a 
strategic relationship with you," he said. 
 
¶9. (S) U/S Joseph reiterated that Iran's actions threaten 
international peace. We will not allow Iran to reach the 
point of no return, he said. The cost will be to high to stop 
Iran after that. The U.S. is looking for "peace through 
strength." The Iranians must know we are determined, he said. 
There is a lot we can do defensively with the Gulf countries 
to signal to Iran that we are united. A strong GCC defensive 
posture will affect Iran's calculations, he concluded. 
 
¶10. (S) Mahmoud voiced concern over reports of a U.S. 
dialogue with Iranian officials in Baghdad. He implied that 
this could undermine Qatar's position or that of other Gulf 
states. It would be good for everyone to know the situation, 
he said, by means of a U.S. briefing on the dialogue. 
 
¶11. (U) U/S Joseph has not reviewed this message. 
UNTERMEYER