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CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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### Viewing cable 10RIYADH118, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTRY PRESSING CHINA TO STOP

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Reference ID | Date | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | ---
10RIYADH118 | 2010-01-26 17:05 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Riyadh

`

    VZCZCXYZ0002
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHRH #0118/01 0261714
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 261714Z JAN 10
    FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2382
    INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
    RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
    RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
    RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
    RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000118

    SIPDIS

    LONDON PASS TO SECRETARY'S PARTY
    NEA FOR ARP

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2020
    TAGS: PREL MNUC PTER PGOV KGHG SENV ETRD SA IR
    SUBJECT: SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTRY PRESSING CHINA TO STOP
    IRANIAN PROLIFERATION, CONCERNED ABOUT TSA REGULATIONS

    Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith, reasons 1.4 (b and d).

    ¶1. (C) Summary: Saudi Foreign Ministry officials told
    visiting NEA A/S Feltman that they are convinced Iran intends
    to develop a nuclear weapon, and that the Saudi Foreign
    Minister pressed his counterpart hard for greater Chinese
    engagement on this threat during the Chinese FM's visit
    earlier in January.  While no explicit deal was discussed,
    Saudi Arabia made it clear it was willing to address Chinese
    concerns on energy security and trade in exchange for
    effective Chinese support to prevent Iranian proliferation.
    Saudi Arabia is also concerned about Iran's unhelpful role in
    Yemen.  While generally very pleased with the state of
    bilateral relations, Saudi officials strenuously - and under
    instruction - complained about the continued negative effect
    of the recent Transportation Safety Administration (TSA)
    regulations that call for extra security screening for Saudi
    Arabia.  The Saudi Foreign Minister will raise these concerns
    with the Secretary in London on January 27.  They noted that
    the Saudi public is increasingly upset by this, and does not
    understand why they were put in the same group with Cuba,
    which has prompted some Saudis to question how special their
    relationship with the United States really is.  A/S Feltman
    urged Saudi Arabia to associate itself with the Copenhagen
    Accord by January 31.  The MFA reported that Saudi Arabia
    donated $50 million for Haitian relief efforts on January 25.
     End Summary.

    Iranian Nuclear Ambitions:
    - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    ¶2. (C) Visiting NEA A/S Feltman discussed a wide range of
    issues with Deputy Saudi Foreign Minister Dr. Prince Torki
    Al-Saud Al-Kabir on January 26.  Prince Torki said Saudi
    Arabia is convinced that Iran intends to develop nuclear
    weapons, and reported that Saudi Foreign Minister Saud
    Al-Faisal pressed the Chinese Foreign Minister on this issue
    on his January 17 visit.  Saud Al-Faisal told the Chinese
    that, for Saudi Arabia, this is a critical security issue.
    Iran,s getting nuclear weapons will open the door to the
    rest of the Middle East pursuing nuclear weapons.  Saudi
    Arabia would prefer that the Middle East remain a nuclear
    free zone.  When the Chinese Foreign Minister replied that
    China will not accept Iran's development of nuclear weapons,
    Saud Al-Faisal told him that China will have to work more
    closely with the rest of the world and the UN Security
    Council to prevent this from happening.

    ¶3. (C) Prince Torki agreed that it was not helpful that the
    Chinese sent a low-level delegation to the most recent 5 1
    talks.  He also agreed it was unfortunate the delegation did
    not agree it was time now to increase pressure on Iran.
    Al-Kabir also noted that time was not in the UN Security
    Council's favor, but in Iran's.  Prince Torki said that Saudi
    Arabia was convinced the time was ripe to push China on this
    issue.  It would be important to demonstrate that the
    assurances FM Al-Faisal got were not just from the Foreign
    Minister, but represented the thinking of the whole
    government.  He said that Saudi Arabia repeated these points
    to the Chinese Middle East special envoy, who visited a week
    later.  Saudi Arabia has also raised these concerns with
    Russia, "which is closer to the U.S. and Saudi positions,"
    and with the Deputy French Foreign Minister three weeks ago.
    Prince Torki also agreed to work with Lebanon's UN Mission,
    now on the Security Council, where it is sure to confront the
    issue of Iranian proliferation.

    ¶4. (C) Prince Torki said that China never directly raised the
    issue of its concerns about securing sufficient oil supplies,
    particularly in the event of a cutoff of Iranian supplies.
    However, Saudi Arabia fully understands China's concerns, and
    in that context, is pleased that the Chinese Foreign Minister
    had &successful8 talks with Saudi Aramco and trade
    officials about specific commercial and energy issues.
    Prince Torki noted that Saudi Arabia has become one of
    China's largest energy suppliers, and has invested billions
    of dollars in refineries in China.  Trade has grown from $140
    million a decade ago to $75 billion now, with prospects for
    further increases.  Prince Torki concluded by noting that
    Saudi Arabia knows what concerns China, and is willing to
    take actions to address those concerns, but must have Chinese
    cooperation in stopping Iran,s development of nuclear
    weapons as a quid pro quo.  Saudi Arabia is encouraging other

    Gulf countries to meet with China to explore similar
    cooperation, although it expects these countries will seek
    the same exchange.

    Yemen:
    - - - -

    ¶5. (C) Prince Torki explained that Saudi Arabia also believes
    that Iran is playing an unhelpful role in Yemen.  Dismissing
    the need for specific evidence, he said it was hard to
    explain how the Houthis, as a poor tribal group, managed to
    get so much money so quickly to obtain the heavy armaments
    that they have been using absent the help of some outside
    group.  It is also hard, he argued, to explain the striking
    similarities with techniques that have been used by
    pro-Iranian groups in Iraq.  Saudi Arabia is convinced that
    Iran is providing money for poor tribesmen to fight, as well
    as payments to their families, and is facilitating contact
    with Somalia and Al Qaeda.  Prince Torki said the Saudi
    Defense Forces have been impressed how well the Houthis have
    fought, displaying advanced training.  (Note: in a separate
    meeting, Ministry of Interior officials echoed many of these
    assessments in greater detail, septel.  End Note).

    ¶6. (C) Prince Torki was unequivocal in stating that Saudi
    Arabia has no intention of becoming part of the current
    conflict between the central government and the Houthis.
    Saudi Arabia felt it had to respond, however, after Houthi
    forces crossed its border.  He said that it made little sense
    for the Houthis to have attacked Saudi Arabia, especially
    since the SAG had warned them previously not to.  He
    concluded that Iran was trying to test Saudi reactions.
    Yemen does not need U.S. troops, but does need equipment,
    training and information, as well as assistance to meet its
    long-term development challenges.  He also said that Saudi
    Arabia is very concerned about Al Qaeda's continued presence
    in Yemen, as it will exploit any opportunity to attack Saudi
    Arabia and the United States.

    Bilateral Relations:
    - - - - - - - - - - -

    ¶7. (C). Prince Torki agreed that our bilateral relations are
    quite strong in general.  He singled out counter-terrorism as
    an example of the strength of cooperation, noting that Saudi
    Arabia enjoys a unique level of cooperation on security with
    the United States.  Prince Torki confirmed that Saudi Arabia
    had contributed $50 million to the Haiti relief effort on
    January 25, which is the largest contribution to date of any
    Middle Eastern country.  He also welcomed greater U.S.
    engagement in multilateral and international organizations.

    Climate Change:
    - - - - - - - -

    8.(SBU) A/S Feltman noted the importance that the President
    places on Climate Change, and the Copenhagen Accord.  Given
    that Minister of Petroleum Al-Naimi was involved in crafting
    the final agreement, A/S Feltman noted the United States is
    counting on Saudi Arabia to associate itself with the accord
    by January 31.  Prince Torki said that Saudi Arabia was very
    pleased the United States was more actively engaged in this
    issue, and said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports
    trying to address this issue.  He noted that the MFA will
    have to consult with other involved ministries, such as the
    Ministry of Petroleum, and promised to respond before January
    ¶31.

    Concern over TSA Regulations:
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    ¶9. (SBU) Prince Torki noted he had been instructed to raise
    Saudi Arabia's significant concern about the TSA regulations
    which had included Saudi Arabia in a limited group of
    countries for additional airport screening.  Prince Torki
    said that this issue had caused a lot of difficulties and
    embarrassment for Saudi Arabia, to the degree that Foreign
    Minister Saud Al-Faisal will raise this with the Secretary in
    London on January 27.  Prince Torki said that Saudi Arabia
    was not upset about the regulation itself, as it recognized
    the U.S. right and obligation to protect its citizens.  The
    issue, rather, was inclusion on the list with the likes of
    Cuba, which causes Saudi Arabia's friends and enemies to

    question how strong its bilateral relationship with the
    United States really is.  Prince Torki said it is very hard
    to explain to the Saudi public why they are included on this
    list, despite not being the origin of the December 25 flight,
    while other countries that have had recent terrorist
    incidents on planes, like the UK, Egypt and Turkey, are not.
    Prince Torki said that Saudi Arabia had been shocked to be
    included on the list.  He noted that Saudi Arabia had been
    told these provisions would only be temporary, and said Saudi
    Arabia would like to know how and when they will be amended,
    implying that the longer they remained in effect without any
    public explanation from the USG, the more it was likely to
    prompt the Saudi Government to re-evaluate areas of
    cooperation, including counter-terrorism cooperation.  A/S
    Feltman promised to convey the spirit and strength of the
    message, and invited any specific Saudi suggestions to
    address the security gap regarding nonmetallic explosives
    exploited in the December 25 incident.

    Middle East Peace:
    - - - - - - - - -

    ¶10. (C) In response to a question, A/S Feltman explained that
    the United States believes that we need to get the Israelis
    and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table, which
    will be the best way to compel Israel to follow through on
    its public statements and to overcome Palestinian skepticism.
     A/S Feltman noted that the United States had referred to the
    1967 lines with swaps as a way of helping encourage the
    Palestinians to return to the table.  Prince Torki welcomed
    this overview.

    (U) This cable has been cleared by A/S Feltman.

    SMITH

`