Gulf Crisis: Saudi Arabia accuses Qatar of distorting facts, suspends all dialogue

Saudi Arabia has suspended any dialogue with Qatar accusing it of distorting facts. Earlier, rulers of both the countries talked over the phone, which raised hopes of a breakthrough in the three-month-old Gulf crisis.

State media of both countries acknowledge that Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani spoke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to express his interest in bilateral talks.

Saudi led the UAE, Egypt, and Bahrain in cutting ties with Qatar, accusing it of funding Islamist extremist groups and of being close to regional rival Iran a charge which Qatar denies.

The crown prince welcomed this move. But this attempt at breaking the ice between the two got washed away soon after the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) accused Qatar's state media of wrongly implying that Saudi Arabia had initiated the outreach.

"The contact was at the request of Qatar and its request for dialogue," SPA said, citing a Saudi foreign ministry official.
"Qatar is not serious in dialogue and continues its previous policies. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia declares that any dialogue with Qatar shall be suspended until a clear statement explaining its position is made in public."

All these developments come after US President Donald Trump on Friday spoke separately with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.