Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen have severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and would be withdrawing their diplomatic staff shortly as the row over Doha’s ties with Tehran deepens. They have also extended a persona non-grata to Qatari diplomats while the UAE has requested Qatari residents and visitors on its territory to leave within 14 days “for precautionary security reasons.” Saudi Arabia has closed its land border with Qatar, the latter’s only terrestrial access to the Arabian Peninsula, Sea and aerial blockade are also reported to be part of their plans as other countries are planning to follow suit.
Qatar is being accused of supporting extremist groups. According to Riyadh, Doha’s “embrace of various terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilizing the region” has prompted their stiff actions. Egypt took a much more direct approach stating that the gas-rich nation’s “antagonist approach” and “all attempts to stop it from supporting terrorist groups failed.” Bahrain alleged that it contributed to the “sabotage and spreading chaos” within its territory through “media incitement, support for armed terrorist activities and funding linked to Iranian groups.”
Qatar’s foreign ministry described the numerous allegations as a “campaign of incitement” founded on “lies” which have been propelled to reach “the level of complete fabrications.” In a released statement, the ministry renewed Doha’s commitment to the Gulf Cooperation Council and the respect of its charter. It strongly rejected accusations that it is engaged in actions that would destabilize the region.
Iran, which is at the center of the crisis between Gulf States, reacted to the developments. Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani tweeted that “the era of cutting diplomatic ties and closing borders … is not a way to resolve crisis … As I said before, aggression and occupation will have no result but instability.”
Doha has often been accused of having ties with extremist groups as well as providing funding to them. Its participation in the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen is expected to end soon as Riyadh has stated that Qatari forces will be withdrawn.
