Qatar calls for dialogue between Iran, Persian Gulf Arab states

Qatar’s foreign minister called for a de-escalation of tension in the Persian Gulf region and for dialogue between Arab countries and Iran.

Speaking on Wednesday during a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the Persian Gulf crisis should be resolved by dialogue, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, according to Reuters.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a diplomatic, trade and travel boycott on Qatar in June 2017, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism and having ties with Iran that were deemed too close.

Following the Arab countries’ decision to sever ties with Qatar and imposing the trade and travel boycott on Doha, Iran rushed to help its southern Arab country which is under the economic blockade by its Arab neighbors. 

Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia also worsened in 2016 following demonstrations in front of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and its consulate in the northeastern city of Mashhad against the execution of the country’s prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Saudi Arabia cut its diplomatic relations with Iran and forced the satellite sheikhdoms of the UAE and Bahrain to sever their ties with Iran.

Since then, several incidents and issues have deteriorated relations between Tehran and Riyadh.

Yemen’s attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and Riyadh’s support for illegal US sanctions against Iran are among the issues that have worsened the relations between the two countries in recent years.

Saudi Arabia has blamed attacks on the oil tankers and its oil facilities on Iran. Tehran has categorically denied the accusations.

In 2018, the US withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and reimposed sanctions against Iran. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE welcomed the Washington move and supported it.

But, Iranian officials have frequently announced that Tehran is ready to mend ties with its Arab neighbors in the Persian Gulf, especially the Saudi Arabia.

Iran has also proposed The HOPE initiative aimed at establishing long-term peace in the Persian Gulf.

Source: Iran Daily