Boycotting countries presented Doha as “gift” to Iran: Qatari FM

CAIRO – 26 September 2017: Following the

Arab boycott

of the tiny emirate of Qatar, Doha has gone all-out in outreaching to Iran, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani announced on Tuesday.

On the sidelines of a press conference held at the French Institute for International Relations, the Qatari Foreign Minister expressed his country’s support towards dialogue to solve the current dilemma, reiterating condemnation and complete disapproval of the Arab demands that were delivered to Doha for reconciliation.

"I'm wondering if the primary goal of the Arab quartet was to force Qatar out of the Gulf Cooperation Council to find itself compelled to get closer to Iran," the Minister added, explaining that they led Doha to be presented as a "gift" to Tehran.

Answering reporters’ questions on the dispute, Sheikh Bin Abdul Rahman said that he strongly felt the American administration’s urges for the dialogue as a way out of the current crisis.

The Qatari Minister further claimed that the decision of the four countries to impose a “blockade” on Qatar is one definition of terrorism, “An attempt to impose policies that violate its own policies, a clear-cut scheme to bring about a change in the regime.”

Since June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have turned on Qatar with a complete air and trade boycott over allegations of its support and sponsorship of terrorism, which Doha denies.