Trump offers to mediate Qatar crisis

World
Europe

US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate talks on Qatar crisis, which erupted after a Saudi-led bloc announced sanctions against the tiny nation three months ago.

"If I can help mediate between Qatar and, in particular, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, I would be willing to do so and I think you'd have a deal worked out very quickly," said Trump during his joint news conference with visiting Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (L) and US President Donald Trump (2L) hold a news conference in the East Room of the White House September 7, 2017 in Washington, DC. /AFP Photo

The Saudi-led quartet severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a blockade on the rich tiny Gulf nation on June 5, citing Doha's support for terrorism and extremism, interference in their internal affairs, and seeking closer ties with Iran. Qatar has strongly denied these charges.

Tensions were renewed last month when Qatar announced it would send back its ambassador to Iran, a rival for most Gulf nations.

Qatar recalled its envoy in Tehran in early 2016 in a show of solidarity with Saudi Arabia after the attacks on two Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.

Despite a flurry of diplomatic mediation efforts made by the United States, the European Union, and Kuwait in the past months, the Gulf standoff has shown no signs of abating.

11159km

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency