United States policy in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf

This file concerns US Middle East policy. It contains correspondence on:

• The appointment of Donald Rumsfeld as US special envoy to the Middle East
• A visit by the US Energy Secretary Don Hodel to the UAE; his meeting with the President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the Minister of Petroleum Dr Mana Saeed Al Otaiba
• A visit by Mr Hodel to Qatar, his talks with the Amir Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani, and with Ali Mohammad Jaidah of Qatar General Petroleum Corporation (QGPC)
• US response to the Gulf Cooperation Council’s policy on outside help to prevent any closure of the Strait of Hormuz
• Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa’s view of the available US military options in Lebanon
• Omani opposition to US policy in respect of Lebanon, Israel and Syria, including comments by the Foreign Minister Yusif Al Alawi.