Trump talks to heads of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar

President Trump spoke Friday with the heads of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar amid a diplomatic rift between the Gulf states.

Trump spoke separately with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the UAE’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the White House said.

Trump emphasized that unity among Washington’s Arab partners “is essential to promoting regional stability and countering the threat of Iran,” according to a White House read out of the calls.

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The president “also emphasized that all countries must follow through on commitments from the Riyadh Summit to defeat terrorism, cut off funding for terrorist groups, and combat extremist ideology,” it added.

Trump also spoke with Qatar’s Al Thani on Thursday after meeting with the emir of Kuwait as the Trump administration ramps up its diplomatic push to resolve a rift between Qatar and its Arab neighbors.

“If I can help mediate between Qatar and, in particular, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, I would be willing to do so. And I think you’d have a deal worked out very quickly,” Trump said during a White House press conference Thursday.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut trade and diplomatic ties to Qatar in June, alleging that the country supports Iran and extremists, something Qatar denies.