Qatar restores diplomatic ties with Iran despite demands by Arab neighbors

washingtonpost.com ^ | August 24 at 8:06 AM | By Sudarsan Raghavan and Erin Cunningham

[BenLurkin]

Qatar hosts U.S. warplanes at a major air base and serves as a logistical hub for Pentagon operations.

“The State of Qatar expressed its aspiration to strengthen bilateral relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in all fields,” Qatar’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The brief statement made no mention of the tensions that have roiled the Persian Gulf since June, when Saudi Arabia and three other Arab nations severed ties with Qatar. The Arab bloc shut down borders, airspace, and shipping lanes after accusing the tiny, energy-rich nation of backing terrorism for ties with groups such as Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.

Qatar has also come under pressure to close down the powerful pan-Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera, which is based in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Qatar has denied the allegations and has weathered the boycott, not least by turning to Iran and Turkey for economic and military assistance.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Interesting. Right up there with Steve Bannon? Confederate statues? Russian interference?

[fishtank]

Get Texas A&M out of Qatar.

[Cementjungle]

My friends from South Africa just arrived last night. They had a layover in Doha, Qatar on the way. I was a little surprised they took that route... I personally would have opted for some other route. Apparently it was a very cheap option.

He also lost one suitcase along the way.

[rdcbn]

Qatar was President Obama’s closest Arab friend

Obama made his sudden push to do his Iran nuclear deal and save Iran from impending economic collapse right about the time the Qatari royal family was kidnapped by Iranians and Qatar made the sudden policy shift in favor of Iran that has it in hot water with the rest of the Arab states

Qatar was also the Arab cut out for Obama’s and Hillary Clintons Arab Spring dirty deals in Libya, Egypt, Syria and Iraq

Coincidence, blackmail or treason?