Zinni resigned from his post at the Department of State on Monday because he was unable to achieve a successful resolution of the issues as regional leaders rejected a proposed US-led mediation effort, he told CBS News.
A Saudi led-coalition of other Middle East countries issued a trade blockade against Qatar in 2017 over accusations that it supported terrorism, sparking a diplomatic crisis. Qatar firmly denies the allegations.
A senior State Department official described Zinni’s departure as a soft resignation, The Hill newspaper reported.
READ MORE: Mattis Says Military in 'Best Possible Hands' as He Steps Down From Post
Zinni’s resignation comes only a few weeks after General James Mattis resigned as secretary of defence in late December following Trump’s decision to withdraw US military forces from Syria.