Oman's efforts to facilitate the release of the 15 members of the British Royal Navy seized by Iranian forces

Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 12:57

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000359

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EO 12958 DECL: 04/11/2017

TAGS PREL, IR, MU

SUBJECT: BRITISH AMBASSADOR LAUDS OMANI ROLE IN IRAN'S

RELEASE OF CAPTIVE SAILORS

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)

1. (C) During a May 11 meeting with the Ambassador, British Ambassador Noel Guckian expressed great satisfaction with Oman's efforts to facilitate the release of the 15 members of the British Royal Navy seized by Iranian forces on March 23. Guckian stated that he had been in near daily contact with Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin Alawi during the crisis, and that bin Alawi had been "very supportive." According to Guckian, bin Alawi called Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, "a number of times" to urge the immediate release of the captive sailors.

2. (C) Guckian also confirmed that he received a phone call from bin Alawi on April 4 in the early afternoon informing him that Iranian President Ahmadinejad would shortly be making a public announcement which would be "very favorable." Bin Alawi had apparently just received the news himself from Larijani. (Note: Guckian was at the Ambassador's residence for a business lunch when bin Alawi called him. End note.)

3. (C) The UK Ambassador reiterated that the Omanis had been very supportive throughout the crisis and even credited them in some part for the successful outcome. It was an occasion, he concluded, when Oman's "positive but non-substantive" relationship with Tehran actually proved useful to the Omanis and an important Omani ally. GRAPPO

World newsThe US embassy cables • US foreign policy • Iran • Oman UK newsMilitary PoliticsForeign policy More on this storyCable: Vatican 'helped secure release' of British sailors captured by Iran

Cable: Iran's capture of British sailors 'less risky than antagonising US'

Cable: Ahmadinejad ordered capture of British servicemen 'for domestic reasons'

Cable: Iraqi president calls on Iran to release British sailors

Cable: Bahraini prince 'wonders why British sailors let themselves be caught' by Iran

More on the US embassy cables

Related

28 Nov 2010

US embassy cables: Oman sultan resists Iranian charm offensive

28 Nov 2010

US embassy cables: Omani official wary of Iranian expansionism

10 Dec 2010
Pope helped to free British sailors held by Iran, WikiLeaks cables show

10 Dec 2010
US embassy cables: Iran's capture of British sailors 'less risky than antagonising US'

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010

Published in
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/103972