Iraqi diplomat: Persian Gulf tensions in no party's interest

Regional cooperation is necessary for fight on terrorism and the Persian Gulf crisis needs to be solved as soon as possible, Iraq’s ambassador to Kuwait Alaa al-Hashimi told reporters on Sunday referring to the recent dispute between some Persian Gulf Arab states and Qatar.

Last week some Arab states, including Bahrain, UAE, Egypt and Libya, led by Saudi Arabia cut their ties with Qatar, accusing the tiny gas-rich country of supporting terrorism. Qatar denies the charges.

The Iraqi envoy also strongly dismissed the reports on alliance among Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia for destabilizing the region.

Elsewhere in his remarks, al-Hashimi condemned terrorist attacks in Iran’s parliament (Majlis) and Imam Khomeini’s Shrine, the responsibility of which was claimed by Daesh (the terrorist group ISIS). At least 17 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and dozens were wounded in the attacks last Wednesday.

“Terrorism is not confined to any boundary, so it deserves a firm response,” the senior Iraqi diplomat added.

Some remarks attributed to the Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani against regional policies of Saudi Arabia stirred tough reactions by media and officials in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

The remarks, published a day after the US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, revealed the deep rift between the two Persian Gulf Arab states on each others’ policies. The conflict also overshadowed the Saudis’ achievements in the political maneuver of the Riyadh conference.

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