U.S. President Donald Trump “thanked” Qatar for allegedly turning over a new leaf by taking “action to counter terrorism and extremism in all forms,” the White House revealed this week in a readout of a recent call between the American commander-in-chief and the Muslim country’s emir.
Trump’s gratitude comes months after his administration joined Saudi Arabia and its allies last year in condemning their fellow Muslim-majority country Qatar for its alleged links to Islamic extremists and state-sponsor of terrorism Iran.
Ultimately, Qatar fully rekindled its diplomatic relationship with Iran, ignoring the demands of U.S.-backed Arab countries that severed ties with Doha to isolate it over its alleged rapport with the Islamic Republic and various terrorist groups, namely al-Qaeda, the Afghan Taliban, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood, among others.
“The state of Qatar expressed its aspiration to strengthen bilateral relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in all fields,” revealed a statement from the Qatari Foreign Ministry.
U.S. officials have deemed Iran the world’s “biggest” state-sponsor of terrorism.
Meanwhile, the White House reports:
The President thanked the Emir for Qatari action to counter terrorism and extremism in all forms, including being one of the few countries to move forward on a bilateral memorandum of understanding. The leaders discussed areas in which the United States and Qatar can partner to bring more stability to the region, counter malign Iranian influence, and defeat terrorism.
Qatar denies the allegations that it lends support to terrorist organizations.
However, U.S. lawmakers, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), have blasted Qatar’s ties to terrorism.
“Qatar’s relationship with Hamas remains very concerning. Senior leaders of Hamas and the military wing of the Muslim Brotherhood—which is an Islamist group designated as terrorists by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates—all reside in Qatar today,” declared Congressman Royce.
In November, Saudi Arabia did appear to change its tune on Qatar, dismissing its dispute with its former ally as insignificant.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
However, the Saudis and its fellow council members the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, as well as non-GCC member Egypt decided to cut off diplomatic, travel, and trade relations with Qatar last year, accusing the nation of backing terrorists and Iran.
Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran are regional foes.
“President Trump reiterated his support for a strong, united Gulf Cooperation Council that is focused on countering regional threats,” pointed out the White House readout, noting, “President Donald J. Trump spoke today [January 15] with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar to discuss ways to strengthen United States-Qatar bilateral relations on security and economic issues.”