All options are on the table regarding Qatar: Saudi AMB

CAIRO – 3 July 2017: Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Ali Hassan Jaffar said that his country along with Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE will do whatever they sees appropriate regarding Qatar after the end of the extended deadline given to Doha.

"We will do what's appropriate towards what threats our security and stability. All options are one the table. We hope Qatar don't force us to adopt other options," Jaffar said in statements to Al-Soudani newspaper Monday.

Jaffar added that Arab demands are clear and known to the Qatari's government since long time.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zaid said Monday that the Egyptian stance regarding the Qatari dispute and the demands issued to Doha's government is "clear."

He added that Egypt has suffered many casualties and losses due to the Qatari continues interfering in its internal polices and issues. "We are waiting for the formal response regarding the 13 demands list," he said.

On Sunday, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that he will hand Kuwaiti Emir Sabah bin Ahmed Al-Sabah Doha’s response to the Arab countries’ demands within hours.

From his side, Sheikh Sabah asked the 4 countries to extend the deadline given to Doha more 48 hours, which was approved by the governments of Egypt, Bahrain, UAE and Saudi Arabia shortly later.

Qatar’s relations with several Arab and Gulf States have been strained since May 24, when the Qatari state-run news agency reported Sheikh Tamim bin Hammad Al-Thani’s statements regarding Gulf foreign policy with Iran, as “unwise.”

On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Libya and Yemen decided to cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar, hurling allegations the state supports terrorism. Ports and airspace were cut off to Qatari vessels.

On June 6, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Ahmad al-Sabah started a tour that included Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in an attempt to mediate between the three countries.