Why the Qatar Crisis Defies Rapid Resolution
Qatar Crisis Enters Its Third Week
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic ties and transportation links with Qatar on June 5, citing its friendliness with Iran and accusing it of supporting terrorism, charges the emirate denies. The move shattered a sense of calm in one of the few stable areas in the Middle East. So far, mediation efforts led by Kuwait have failed. A round of shuttle diplomacy by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in July didn’t yield immediate results, either, though officials say it produced ideas that could underpin a solution. Qatar’s leaders have said they’re ready to live with the isolation rather than kowtow to the Saudis. The tensions threaten to alter longstanding geopolitical alliances.
Apparently, a fake news report planted in Qatar’s state news agency by hackers. The report quoted Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as criticizing mounting anti-Iran sentiment after a trip to the region by President Donald Trump. During the visit, Trump and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz singled out Iran as the world’s main sponsor of terrorism. Qatari officials quickly deleted the comments attributed to the emir and appealed for calm as Saudi and U.A.E. newspapers, clerics and celebrities accused Qatar of trying to undermine efforts to isolate Iran.