U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook has warned that the ongoing rift between Qatar and its Gulf Arab neighbors has lasted too long.
“The dispute has continued for too long and it ultimately harms our shared regional interests in stability, prosperity and security,” cautioned Hook during a visit to Doha, stressing that a resolution “will advance the collective interests of all the parties to this conflict.”
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and non-Gulf state Egypt cut off ties with Qatar in June 2017 over accusations of financing regional terrorism, specifically linked to the Muslim Brotherhood according to intelligence experts.
Doha denies the charges and instead claims the Arab bloc is attempting to infringe on its sovereignty.
While extensive efforts by the United States and Kuwait to mediate the dispute have thus far been unsuccessful, Washington has made clear to its regional partners that the prolonged friction threatens efforts to contain malign expansionist activities by the Islamic Republic of Iran.