Riyadh/ Doha :Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Libya and Egypt have shocked the world by announcing that it was severing their diplomatic relations with Qatar. These countries have taken this tough decision accusing Qatar of supporting terrorist organizations. Qatar, however has criticized that these countries have taken this action based on false allegations. US President Trump, whilst on his Saudi Arabia visit had tried bringing all the Islamic states together against Iran. It is also being indicated that these efforts were being opposed by Qatar and hence the country is being targeted by the Saudi Arabia and its allies.
The US President whilst addressing around 55 Arab-Islamic countries had called for establishing a common united front against the terrorism. In the same meeting King Salman of Saudi Arabia had said that Iran is the promoter of global terrorism. Thus it was evident that the front being established by Arab-Islamic nations was actually to oppose Iran. But the participants to this front are not united on decisions such news was being circulated past few days. It is being said that Qatar had questioned the anti-Iran stand taken by the front. The differences became acute which then precipitated the extreme stance taken by Saudi and its allies against Qatar.
Bahrain was first to announce its severance of political ties with Qatar on Monday morning. This was followed by closing the air and sea routes to Qatar and ordered Qataris staying in Bahrain to leave the country within 14 days. In few minutes Saudi too followed citing security reasons and closed the three modes of transit to Qatar. Saudi alleged that Qatar has cooperated with terrorist organizations like Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaida and IS. Saudi also pointed that Qatar has cooperated with pro-Iran terrorist organizations to do activities in Saudi and Bahrain. Saudi has said in its allegations that Qatar based media channel has been broadcasting messages of these terrorist organizations.
Egypt and UAE also followed Saudi by cutting ties with Qatar and asking Qataris to leave their countries in next one week. President of Yemen- Hadi, which is a refugee in Saudi as well as Libya also supported Saudi decision and boycotted Qatar. Yemeni President Hadi has alleged that Qatar government is supporting pro-Iran Houthi rebels .
Qatar has refuted the allegations made by Saudi Arabia and its allies. Moreover Qatar has said that their Emir – Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani did not make any comments against Saudi’s anti-Iran stand. They made it clear that the Qatari ruler has not taken anti-Saudi position. However, Qatar has refused to comment on the telephonic discussions Sheikh Tamim had with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani on Saturday.
Iran too made a statement on this move against Qatar saying that such measures will not resolve issues in the Gulf. In the meantime, a slight increase in the international fuel prices was registered after the boycott of Qatar by Saudi and its allies.
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