UPDATE - Germany, Iran call for direct talks in Qatar crisis

UPDATES WITH FURTHER REMARKS FROM GERMAN AND IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - German and Iranian foreign ministers on Tuesday called for direct talks between the Arab states and Qatar to find a diplomatic solution to the Gulf crisis.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Berlin, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel urged all sides in Qatar crisis to avoid further escalation and seek solution at a negotiation table.

"We hope that all parties involved would enter into direct talks as quickly as possible. Further escalation would be in nobody's interest," he said.

Gabriel warned that continued tensions between Qatar and its neighbors would further deepen fault lines in the region.

Asked about a 13-point list issued by Arab states, which asked Qatar to shut down Al Jazeera news network among other demands, Gabriel argued that this could be discussed at the negotiation table.

"My interpretation... this is the starting point of negotiations, that is not the end. And so…necessary is to come to the table and then negotiate. Then we will see what kind of result is reachable," he said, speaking in English.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif voiced support for Gabriel's appeal for direct talks between Qatar and the Arab states.

"Our region cannot tolerate any further escalation," he said, calling for a political solution to the crisis.

Zarif also criticized the blockade imposed on Qatar by the Saudi Arabia-led bloc.

"Problems, issues, differences cannot be resolved through imposition of pressure and sanctions and blockades," he said.

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen abruptly cut diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of interfering into domestic affairs of other countries in the region and supporting terrorist groups.

They also imposed a land, sea, and air blockade on Qatar.

The Qatari government has strongly rejected these accusations and stressed that the blockade was in violation of international law.