Rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Qatar after 3-year rift

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Informed sources told Bloomberg, Wednesday, that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are close to a preliminary deal to end a rift that’s lasted for more than three years, with the efforts and mediation of the US administration.

On Wednesday, an Egyptian diplomatic source revealed to North Press about a new movement related to the four Arab countries’ crisis with Qatar, aimed at resolving the boycott and returning relations to before the fifth of June 2017.

The tentative agreement does not involve the three other Arab countries; the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, that also cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar in June 2017.

Resources reported that a broader realignment remained a way off as outstanding issues, such as Doha’s relations with Tehran.

The rapprochement is likely to include reopening air space and land borders, and end the information war between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The New York Times stated that Trump administration is pushing for an agreement that would ease a blockade against Qatar, aiming by that delivering a last blow to Iran’s economy before President Trump leaves office.

The New York Times reported that Trump administration wants Saudi Arabia to open its airspace to Qatari flights that are paying millions of dollars to route over Iran.

It would also deprive Iran from $100 million in annual fees that Qatar pays to fly through its airspace, money that is nourishing Iran’s battered economy, according to the news paper

The newspaper quoted officials that those fees allow Tehran’s leaders to finance military programs that the Trump administration considers as a threat.