Arab States to Restore Ties With #Qatar as Three-Year Rift Ends - Bloomberg

Arab States to Restore Ties With Qatar as Three-Year Rift Ends - Bloomberg

Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud during a press conference on Jan. 5.

 
Photographer: FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Four Arab states agreed to fully restore ties with Qatar, Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday, ending a more than three-year dispute that divided the major energy-producing region at a time of heightened tensions over Iran.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt made the pledge after the kingdom hosted a Gulf Cooperation Council summit of regional leaders.

“A resolution of all areas of differences and a restoration of all diplomatic ties” was agreed by the GCC and Egypt, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan told a news conference. “It will be a strong and important foundation to the future of the region and its stability.”

The shift comes two weeks before President Donald Trump, who has led an offensive to weaken Iran, is set to leave office. His successor, Joe Biden, has pledged to engage diplomatically with Tehran if it first returns to the terms of a landmark nuclear deal.

“What we are hearing from the Biden administration shows that they realize the threat” posed by Iran, the Saudi minister said.