Qatar FM meets US counterpart in Washington to discuss Gulf crisis

Qatari Foreign Minister has discussed the Gulf crisis with his US counterpart, who said President Donald Trump wants the year-old spat to end because it benefits Iran.

Mike Pompeo made the comments on Tuesday during the meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a statement from the State Department said.

"The Secretary emphasised the President's desire to see the Gulf dispute eased and eventually resolved, as it only benefits Iran," the statement said.

It added that Pompeo commended "Qatar's continued efforts on counterterrorism and countering terrorism financing".

The state-run Qatar News Agency reported that Pompeo and Sheikh Mohammed discussed the "latest developments in the region, especially the Gulf crisis and the repercussions of the humanitarian situation in Yemen, Libya, Palestine, and Syria".

The Qatari top diplomat is currently on his first official visit to Washington the duration of which has not been made public.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar last June over accusations of supporting extremism and being too close to rival Iran, charges Doha has denied.

Qatar says the Saudi-led bloc are seeking regime change in Doha, while the spat has remained in a stalemate.

The meeting came after US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoys met with the leaders of Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to discuss the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the administration's proposals for a peace deal.

Trump initially showed support for Riyadh during the blockade of Qatar, but faced resistance from most policy makers and advisers.

Since then Trump has tried to bridge the divide and urged Saudi Arabia and the UAE to end what he has called a "senseless" dispute.