Baku, Azerbaijan, June 5
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran says that move by Arab States to cut ties with Qatar is not a way to resolve the crisis in the Middle East, Deputy Chief of Staff of Iran’s President for Political Affairs Hamid Aboutalebi said.
The era of implementing sanctions is over and cutting diplomatic ties, closing borders and blockade is not a way to resolve crisis, Aboutalebi tweeted June 5.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have cut diplomatic ties and all land sea and air contacts with Qatar, accusing the Persian Gulf country of supporting terrorism and interfering in their internal affairs.
Meanwhile Aboutalebi tweeted that these countries have no other option but to start regional dialogue.
"What is happening is the preliminary result of the sword dance," Aboutalebi said referring to US President Donald Trump's last month visit to Saudi Arabia, where he participated in ceremonial sword dance.
During the visit Trump attacked Iran and accused the Islamic Republic of being the source of “so much instability in the region.”
He said, "For decades Iran has fueled the fires of sectarian conflict and terror.”
The US and Saudi Arabia sealed a $110 billion deal during the Trump trip in which Riyadh will purchase US arms to help it counter Iran.
Relations between Tehran and Riyadh have been strained over the past years after their conflicting views on regional developments, particularly on Yemen and Syria, became more noticeable.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran after protesters stormed the kingdom’s embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad on January 2, 2016 in response to Riyadh's execution of a prominent Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Iran: cutting ties with Qatar by Arab states not solution
Iran says that move by Arab States to cut ties with Qatar is not a way to resolve the crisis in the Middle East, Deputy Chief of Staff of Iran’s President for Political Affairs Hamid Aboutalebi said
