Iran Steps Up Diplomacy over Qatar Diplomatic Crisis
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke with multiple foreign counterparts on Monday to discuss the latest regional developments after a number of countries decided to suspend relations with Qatar.
In telephone conversations with Asian and African foreign ministers, Zarif talked about the worsening diplomatic spat between Qatar and some of its regional neighbors.
On Monday, the senior Iranian diplomat held separate telephone conversations with Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah to discuss Qatar diplomatic row.
Zarif also spoke with the foreign ministers of Lebanon, Tunisia, Malaysia, and Algeria, separately.
It came after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain and the Maldives and a number of others cut off diplomatic ties with the Doha government, saying they will suspend air, sea and land transport with Qatar.
The Saudi kingdom made the announcement early on Monday, saying it was taking action for what it called the protection of national security.
Riyadh has accused Qatar of "harboring a multitude of terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to create instability in the region".
Qatar said there is "no legitimate justification" for cutting diplomatic ties.
"For us, the strategic choice of the state of Qatar is to solve any dispute through dialogue," Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said.
