Egypt, Saudi Arabia to maintain blockade on Qatar

By Viola Fahmy

CAIRO (AA) - Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday jointly announced that their ongoing blockade of Qatar -- first imposed in June of last year -- would remain in effect until further notice, according to the Saudi-based Al-Arabiya television channel.

The two countries reiterated their ongoing refusal to “make any concessions” to the embattled Arab Gulf state.

The announcement was made following a meeting in Cairo between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the latter of whom visited Egypt on Tuesday as part of a wider tour of the region.

Both countries also stressed the need to contain what they described as Iranian “interference” in the region.

Although Qatar is a longstanding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, it -- along with Oman -- maintains normal diplomatic relations with Tehran.

According to Al-Arabiya, al-Sisi, during Tuesday’s meeting in Cairo, “sent a message to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz [through the crown prince] regarding Egypt's continued commitment to Gulf security”.

In June of last year, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain collectively severed ties with Doha and imposed an embargo -- by air land and sea -- on Qatar.

The Saudi-led axis accuses Doha of supporting terrorist groups in the region -- allegations Qatar strenuously denies.