In a significant development, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar have come to an agreement to restore their diplomatic ties, putting an end to a six-year-long rift. The dispute initially arose when the UAE accused Qatar of supporting terrorism.
In response to this positive step, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar expressed their warm welcome to the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The State of Qatar aspires to enhance its partnership with the UAE, reflecting the deep fraternal relations between the two peoples, according to a statement issued by Qatar’s foreign ministry.
This development marks a period of reconciliation in the Gulf region. Just a few months ago, Saudi Arabia and Iran also reached an agreement to restore diplomatic ties, with the mediation of China, thus resolving a seven-year-long conflict. The tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran had escalated in 2019 following an attack on Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq facility, which was attributed to Yemeni fighters backed by Iran. The attack temporarily disrupted half of Saudi Arabia’s oil production capacity. Last year, Saudi Arabia raised concerns about a potential imminent Iranian attack, prompting a swift response from the United States.
The reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran is part of a broader trend of geopolitical realignments taking place in the Middle East. Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been engaged in quiet negotiations to normalize their relations, which were severely strained after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018. Qatar has also successfully resolved a five-year-long rift with its neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf. Additionally, Israel has been strengthening its ties with Arab nations amid escalating tensions with the Palestinians.
Furthermore, Tehran has granted pardons to over 22,000 individuals who were arrested during protests that erupted in various Kurdish cities following the death of Mahsa Amini. The unrest began after the 22-year-old Iranian-Kurd woman died on September 16, just three days after being arrested by Iran’s “morality police” for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.
However, there are concerns in the oil markets as recent reports suggest progress in talks between the United States and Iran regarding a nuclear deal. The resumption of these talks raises the possibility of easing sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, which led to a decline in oil prices. According to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, the negotiations are progressing more rapidly than expected, with the potential for a deal to be reached within weeks. The terms of the agreement are likely to include Iran halting its uranium enrichment activities of 60% and higher, in exchange for permission to export up to 1 million barrels per day of oil.
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