- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Persian Gulf Skirmish: The Real Reason Behind the High-Profile Diplomatic Row

© REUTERS / StringerA man looks as the world's biggest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker, Qatari-flagged DUHAIL as she crosses through the Suez Canal (File)
A man looks as the world's biggest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker, Qatari-flagged DUHAIL as she crosses through the Suez Canal (File) - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Amid the high-profile diplomatic row between Qatar and a number of other Arab states over the support of terrorist groups, all the more surprising as nearly all the sides to the conflict have been repeatedly spotted funding extremists, independent Italian journalist Giulietto Chiesa provides his reasons as to what could have triggered the scandal.

Buildings are seen from across the water in Doha, Qatar June 5, 2017 - Sputnik International
'Qatar-Fly' Effect: How One Rogue Peninsula Struck Fear In Whole of Middle East
The breakup of the diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya and Qatar signifies a radical turn in the developments in the Middle East, Giulietto Chiesa writes in his piece for Sputnik Italia.

No major military-political developments are excluded. Qatar's air squadrons are constantly patrolling the skies above the country while its neighboring countries severe all ties, including those between banks, and disrupt air and sea traffic.

The borders will be shut, the embassy officials will soon return to their countries; Al Jazeera, the official voice of Qatar, is forbidden across the region.

It is not an easy task to understand what has happened. At first sight, it was the remark of Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, which Saudi Arabia found insulting and too friendly towards Iran that might have triggered the conflict.

It was rather a sharp remark about hostile media campaigns defaming Qatar, especially active in Saudi Arabia and the US media.

Qatar’s state-run news agency also ran a story, saying the kingdom had ordered the withdrawal of its ambassadors from Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over “tension” with the administration of US President Donald Trump.

In this file photo taken Dec. 11, 2015 at the Baltic port of Swinoujscie, Poland, the giant liquefied natural gas tanker Al Nuaman, carrying some 200,000 cubic meters of liquefied gas from Qatar, arrives in Swonoujscie, the first delivery to the freshly-built LNG terminal, as Poland seeks to cut its dependence on gas deliveries from Russia - Sputnik International
Qatari Conflict: 'Proxy Battle Between Iran and Saudis Going to the Next Level'
The article, quoting Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, called Iran an "Islamic power" and praised the Hamas resistance movement as "the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people."

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry later claimed that its state agency had been hacked and the emir’s statements had been forged.

Four Sunni countries, however, decided to use it as a pretext, regardless of its legitimacy, for their rapid response. It is only too clear that there are more serious reasons behind the breakup.

After Donald's Trump visit to Riyadh and his blessing of a new Sunni coalition against Shia Iran, Saudi Arabia decided that it has the right to dictate the new rules in the Persian Gulf. And, in the first place, put Qatar, the main wrongdoer, back in its place.

The accusations against Qatar of supporting terrorism look even more comical as they come from Saudi Arabia, the major sponsor and backer of the so-called Islamic State (Daesh).

In fact, Giulietto Chiesa elaborates, Qatar, throughout the years of its dynamic financial growth, has become the main sponsor of a Salafi terrorist organization, which differs ideologically from Saudi-backed Wahhabism. The Muslim Brotherhood, several units of al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda and Palestinian Hamas have become part of this organization.

Doha, Qatar - Sputnik International
Room for Maneuver: Who Can Help Qatar Settle Its Regional Diplomatic Row
This explains why Egypt, headed by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has sided up with Riyadh, which has guaranteed advantageous oil prices, against Qatar. Meanwhile Bahrain, with a strong Shia presence, has accused Doha of meddling in its internal affairs and of supporting extremists in Yemen.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he does not expect the row to affect the fight against terrorism in the region and globally.

However the recent developments signify that the results, contrariwise, will be quite serious and will affect many.

At stake are very important interests, which go beyond the polemic "who is greater terrorist" and beyond the long-term Sunni-Shia disputes.

In fact, it is all about gas. Gas in the main source of income for Qatar, which it exports using hundreds of tankers. The recently opened huge methane deposit in the middle of the Persian Gulf, which partially lies in the territorial waters of Iran, guarantees decades of wealth and prosperity for Doha.

Thus, it is a known fact that one of the reasons for Donald Trump's warm support of the setup of an "Arab NATO" is his eagerness to control this gas field.

© AP Photo / Vahid Salemian aerial view shows the third gas refinery of South Pars gas field in Assalouyeh, Iran on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf (File)
an aerial view shows the third gas refinery of South Pars gas field in Assalouyeh, Iran on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf (File) - Sputnik International
an aerial view shows the third gas refinery of South Pars gas field in Assalouyeh, Iran on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf (File)

It is also no secret that one of the causes of the war in Syria was the decision of Bashar al-Assad to ban the laying of a gas pipeline on his territory, which would have transported gas through Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean.

After the Daesh defeat in Syria, Riyadh is reviewing another variant: through Jordan and Israel. Doha could have planned to run it through Iran and Turkey, the sworn enemies of Saudi Arabia and Israel, to the Mediterranean.

That could be the very reason why Tillerson shows no signs of anxiety, though there is ground for concern. Probably Washington has already decided to pull the trigger and to do away with Emir Tamim, Giulietto Chiesa finally wondered.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала