With Qatar isolated by GCC, Iran steps in
After Saudi Arabia asked Qatar to cut relations with Iran, Iranian and Qatari leaders said they plan to expand ties.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and stressed the expansion of their ties amid a Saudi-led effort to politically and economically isolate the tiny country in the Persian Gulf.
During the phone call on June 25, Rouhani said, “Helping Qatar’s economy and expanding relations — especially in the private sector between the two countries — can be a joint goal.” Iran has been reportedly sending 1,100 tons of fruits and vegetables to Qatar daily ever since Saudi Arabia blocked off its borders to the country, according to Iran’s directors of ports in Bushehr province. Qatar’s only land border is with Saudi Arabia.
Rouhani noted that he sees a “continuous relationship” between Iran and Qatar and that there is “a great deal of capacity to strengthen ties.”
On the crisis between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which has dragged in regional states as well as Western countries, Rouhani said, “We believe if a dispute takes place between regional countries, pressure, threats and sanctions is not the path to resolve the dispute.” He added that Iran is ready to help to reduce tensions.
