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US efforts fail to convince Saudi rulers for direct talks with Qatar

Published

9 years ago

October 23, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tillerson participates in Saudi Arabia-Iraq Coordination meeting in Riyadh

The US mediation efforts have failed to convince Saudi rulers to begin direct talks for resolving Qatar crisis. This was clearly indicated by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday while addressing a joint press conference with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha.

After spending a day in Riyadh, Tillerson said, “We cannot force talks upon people who are not ready to talk.” He further said, “In my meetings with [Saudi] Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, I asked him to please engage in dialogue, [but] there is not a strong indication that parties are ready to talk yet.”

Tillerson also met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and discussed the bilateral and regional issues.

This was Tillerson’s second visit to the region as part of US diplomacy for resolving the Qatar crisis. He said that he is not hopeful that Saudi Arabia is willing to enter discussion to resolve the crisis.

Tillerson who also met Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani expressed concern about the effect of the crisis on the regional security.

“It’s very important for the GCC to continue to pursue unity. It is most effective when it is unified and none of us can afford to let this dispute linger. We ask that everyone minimises the rhetoric and de-escalate the tensions and take steps to do so,” Tillerson said.

Earlier on Thursday Tillerson told Bloomberg, “There seems to be a real unwillingness on the part of some of the parties to want to engage… It’s up to the leadership of the quartet when they want to engage with Qatar because Qatar has been very clear – they’re ready to engage.”

However, Qatar’s foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani reaffirmed commitment to dialogue and emphasised the need for the crisis to be resolved. He said that Saudi led group was not ready “to tackle with dialogue the reasons for this crisis.”

He expressed frustration over the behaviour of the four blockading countries. He said, “These countries have resorted to undiplomatic tactics that have nothing to do with modern diplomatic lessons, and this is no good.”

He was equally concerned about the unity among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “The GCC is quite important for the collective security and we feel sorry that the GCC will be the victim of the crisis against the state of Qatar,” he said.

He was also of the view that the lingering crisis has affected the collective security of the GCC member states.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain had suddenly cut diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5 and imposed land, air and sea blockade. Saudi Arabia appealed “all brotherly countries” to sever ties with Doha. Kuwait and Oman did not follow Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has accused Doha of financing “terrorism” and maintaining close ties with its regional rival Iran. However, Qatar denies the allegations.

After the crisis began, Iran has started supplying daily needs to the tiny oil rich country. Tehran also allowed Qatar Airways to use its air space for reaching Central Asia and European countries.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Jeffrey Harrigian of US Air Force Central Command, has on Sunday said, “There are no diplomatic issues that are impacting our ability to operate every day from here in our counter-ISIS missions”. Their Command Control headquarters is located just outside Doha at Al-Udeid airbase.

While in Riyadh, Tillerson also participated in the inaugural meeting of the Saudi Arabia-Iraq Coordination Committee, along with Saudi King Salman and Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi. Iraq and Saudi Arabia have long been regional rivals.

This is again considered to be aimed to minimise widening Iranian influence in the region. In post 2003 era, Iran and Iraq have emerged to be the best friends.

Iranian military advisors have played important role in Baghdad’s fight against Daesh (IS). Baghdad has, time and again, expressed suspicion on US intentions while fighting IS as US jets were caught on camera throwing arms for the IS terrorist in Iraq.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Latest world news

Putin praises PM Modi, says he has very good ideas on Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for repeatedly raising the need to end the Ukraine war, describing his ideas for a settlement as “very good”.

Published

1 day ago

October 2, 2026

APNLive Desk

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continued efforts to promote an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, saying the Indian leader has “very good ideas” aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution.

Putin made the remarks while addressing the Valdai Forum of international Russia experts, where he spoke about Modi’s repeated efforts to raise the issue of ending the conflict.

What Putin said about PM Modi

Putin said Modi has continued to raise the question of ending the conflict despite the close and friendly relationship between India and Russia.

According to Putin, the Prime Minister has shown a strong interest in finding a solution and has ideas that could help identify mutually acceptable ways to resolve the conflict.

Putin also described India’s position as neutral while highlighting Modi’s interest in bringing the conflict to an end through peaceful means.

The Russian president expressed gratitude to Modi for his ideas and his desire to see the conflict end as soon as possible.

Modi’s position on the Ukraine war

PM Modi has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts, including during his meetings with Putin.

During their September 11 meeting in New Delhi, Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward for resolving conflicts.

Modi had also told Putin during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek that the situation needed to move from “endless war” towards an end to the war.

India has consistently maintained that conflicts should be addressed through dialogue and peaceful means, with Modi previously describing the present period as not being an era of war.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022 and has continued despite repeated diplomatic efforts to seek a resolution.

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S Jaishankar calls Pakistan a “serial practitioner of terrorism” at UN

S Jaishankar criticised Pakistan at the UN General Assembly, referring to a “serial practitioner of terrorism” and warning against attempts to normalise terrorism.

Published

6 days ago

September 27, 2026

APNLive Desk

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised Pakistan during his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying that a “serial practitioner of terrorism” had misrepresented facts and that arguments were being made to normalise terrorism.

Jaishankar’s remarks came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly and spoke about the 2025 military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

Jaishankar’s message to Pakistan

Referring to Pakistan without naming it directly in that remark, Jaishankar said a “serial practitioner of terrorism” had misrepresented facts before the UN General Assembly.

He said arguments were being made to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences, adding that such an approach would not stand.

Jaishankar reiterated India’s position that the country would exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism.

He also said that friendship and goodwill could not coexist with terrorism and that understandings based on such circumstances would naturally be called into question.

“It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways,” Jaishankar said.

India stresses zero tolerance on terrorism

Jaishankar described terrorism as a persistent threat to peace and called for governments involved in cross-border terrorism to be held accountable.

He also stressed that there should be no dilution in India’s zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and particularly called for greater attention to its financial aspects.

His remarks came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif referred to the 2025 India-Pakistan military confrontation during his UN General Assembly address.

Jaishankar backs two-state solution for Palestine

During his UN address, Jaishankar also spoke about the situation in West Asia and said India was prepared to contribute to efforts addressing food and energy security amid continuing tensions and violence.

On the Palestine issue, he reiterated India’s longstanding support for a two-state solution.

Jaishankar said India was also contributing humanitarian assistance and relief efforts for the Palestinian people.

He also warned about continuing threats and pressures around the world and stressed the need for greater stability, security and predictability.

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Trump rejects Iran’s 7-day peace plan, says deal can come after US polls

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to end hostilities and indicated that a deal could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Published

1 week ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict, while indicating that a possible agreement could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Iran had proposed a seven-day framework under which hostilities could be brought to an end, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations over its nuclear programme could resume.

Iran’s seven-day proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had put forward the proposal through intermediaries. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened by the end of the seventh day if specified conditions were met, while broader nuclear discussions would restart.

The proposal was based largely on an earlier understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, but Iran sought to implement the latest framework much faster. The earlier arrangement had provided a longer period for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments, making its reopening a key element of any effort to ease the wider conflict.

Trump points to US midterm elections

Trump, speaking at the United Nations, showed no indication that he was ready to immediately resume negotiations on the terms proposed by Tehran.

He called for the economic isolation of Iran and said he believed a deal could be reached after the US midterm elections in November. Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performed in the midterm elections.

The remarks came as Iranian officials signalled that they remained open to diplomacy and described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Nuclear talks remain part of Iran proposal

Iran’s latest plan links the easing of hostilities with the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.

The proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-Iran arrangement. According to reporting on the latest proposal, the new framework is intended to compress the timeline for implementing commitments that had previously been discussed by the two sides.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is not accepting Tehran’s seven-day framework as presented, while Iran continues to put diplomacy and negotiations forward as part of its proposal.