UAE official: Gulf considering more action against Qatar

The UAE Ambassador to Russia, Omar Ghobash, has revealed that the Gulf States, which boycotted Qatar, are considering more sanctions against their Gulf neighbour, the Guardian reported today.

According to the British newspaper, Ghobash said expelling Qatar from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is not the only punishment Doha could face.

Their position today anyway is inconsistent with being members of the GCC because it is a common security and defence organisation. There are certain economic sanctions that we can take which are being considered right now.

He added: “One possibility would be to impose conditions on our own trading partners and say you want to work with us then you have got to make a commercial choice.”

“If Qatar was not willing to accept the demands, it is a case of ‘Goodbye Qatar’ we do not need you in our tent anymore.”

Read: What comes after the blockade on Qatar?

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain have imposed an economic and diplomatic embargo on Qatar, claiming it has been hosting terrorists and funding extremism for years. Qatar denies the claims.

Last week they announced 13 demands which Doha must meet in 10 days in order for the action to be halted. The terms include closing Al Jazeera news network, reducing its ties with Iran and extraditing members of the Muslim Brotherhood and other organisations which are wanted in other countries.

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Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, today condemned Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt for refusing to begin talks about the crisis.

This is contrary to the principles that govern international relations because you cannot just present lists of demands and refuse to negotiate.

On Saturday, Qatar said the demands are “unacceptable”.