Iran, Turkey recommend dialogue in Gulf state quarrel with Qatar

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Regional leaders including Turkey and Iran are urging peace and stability after Monday's fallout severance of diplomatic ties between Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt and with Qatar.

 

“At a time when the region continues to seek peace and stability and all regional powers are desperately needed to take necessary steps towards these shared goals, members of the Gulf Cooperation Council ought to resolve their disputes through negotiations, dialogue and communication," Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin wrote in a statement.

 

Ankara also urged the Gulf countries to utilize their membership in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to resolve their differences.

 

“President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan has initiated diplomatic efforts in order to resolve this dispute between friends and brothers in line with the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan," Kalin wrote. "I would like to take this opportunity to declare once again that Turkey is prepared to do its due over the next days and weeks.”

 

Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin also spoke by phone on Monday regarding the crisis.

 

"It was emphasized that the grave crisis in the Middle East requires well-orchestrated efforts and close coordination of the international community in fighting the terrorist threat," read a statement from the Kremlin.

 

In addition to Putin, Erdogan held calls with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, according to the Turkish Anadolu Agency.

 

Tehran took a similar tone.

 

“Neighbors are permanent; geography can't be changed. Coercion is never the solution. Dialogue is imperative, especially during blessed Ramadan,” Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter.

 

The ministry stated Zarif urged also dialogue in separate telephone conversations with foreign ministers of Turkey, Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Tunisia, Malaysia, Lebanon, Algeria, Kuwait as well as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.

 

Initially on Monday, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic,  transportation and trade ties with Qatar citing security concerns. Later Yemen and Maldives joined the four.

 

The isolation has created food runs at shopping centers across the small state.