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US Renews Call for Gulf Countries to Resolve Rift

Nike Ching

   WASHINGTON - The United States is renewing its call for Gulf countries
   to resolve a three year-long rift, citing the need to solidify a united
   front against Iran.

   "To close the door to increased Iranian meddling, it's past time to
   find a solution to the Gulf rift," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
   said Monday. "The Trump administration is eager to see this dispute
   resolved and to reopen Qatar's air and land borders currently blocked
   by other Gulf states. I look forward to progress on this issue."

   Pompeo spoke after welcoming senior Qatari officials, including Qatari
   Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Finance
   Minister Ali Sharif Al Emadi, to the State Department for the third
   annual U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue.

   The secretary of state was joined by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
   and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The U.S. signed agreements with
   Qatar to enhance investment and cultural ties.

   The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) bloc, composed of Saudi Arabia, the
   United Arab Emirates (UAE,) Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, has been
   fractured since mid-2017.

   The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar
   and imposed a boycott, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar has
   denied the allegations.

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