Iranian- US tensions weigh on Riyadh and Doha conflict

The Saudis have invited Qatar to the two summits of the Arab world scheduled for May 30 in Mecca. The "incidents" of the past few days in the Gulf waters and Houthi drone attacks are at the center of the Arab League and CCG meetings. In recent days Doha has called for "dialogue" between Washington and Tehran.

Riyadh (AsiaNews / Agencies) – Shelving almost two years of severe tensions, Saudi Arabia has invited Qatar to two emergency summit meetings in Arab countries, scheduled for May 30th in Mecca. At the center of the summits is the ongoing clash - so far only verbal, but there is a strong risk of a military escalation as threatened by the White House itself - between the United States and Iran, which could destabilize the entire Middle Eastern region.

The news was given by the Doha Foreign Ministry, which says that the Emir of Qatar Sheik Tamim ben Hamad al-Thani "received a written message" inviting his government to participate in the meetings in the holy city. In recent days the head of Doha diplomacy Mohammed ben Abdelrahmane al-Thani received the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (CCG) Abdullatif al-Zayani, to mend relations in the Arab world.

On May 18, Riyadh called for a meeting of the CCP countries and the Arab League following several "incidents" from the surrounding mysterious occurrences in the Gulf waters. Among the reasons for concern are the recent attacks by drones launched by Houthi rebel militias in Yemen towards Saudi Arabia's oil pipelines.

Saudi Arabia has called the Mecca summit for May 30 to "discuss aggression and its consequences on the region". It is, the note adds, "to consult and coordinate with the brother leaders" about "all the issues likely to reinforce the security and stability of the region".

The Arab countries therefore seem intent on closing ranks, filing recent grievances, facing the common Iranian "threat". In recent days, the Qatari foreign minister had called for a "dialogue" between Iran and the United States, in an attempt to avert the arms race.

According to some analysts and experts, close Qatari-Iranian relations are the cause of the clash between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In fact, Qatar and Iran recently reiterated their mutual economic and diplomatic support. Others blame the rivalry between Doha and Abu Dhabi among Sunnis for the crisis.In reality, behind the controversy - which has isolated a small emirate in the Gulf area, bringing it even closer to the Islamic Republic, Turkey and Morocco - there would be the opposition within Sunni Islam between Doha and Abu Dhabi.