Iran's Rouhani pledges 'all-out cooperation' with blockade-hit Qatar

Tehran's leader expressed his support for the Gulf state which was subjected to an unprecedented blockade last June by Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states.

The Iranian leader made the remarks during a meeting with the speaker of Qatar's Advisory Council, Ahmad bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, in the Iranian capital.

"We believe that any pressure on the Qatari government and people is unacceptable, and if there are differences between the countries of the region, especially the neighbour countries, they should only be resolved through dialogue," Rouhani said on the sidelines of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) Conference.

Rouhani reiterated Iran's cooperation with Qatar amid the dispute.

"Iran and Qatar have always been friend and brother," he said. "Based on its political will, Iran tends to develop all-out cooperation with Qatar."

Iran is currently hosting parliamentary delegations from 44 Islamic countries in its capital for an annual conference of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which began on Saturday. 

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic and economic ties with gas-rich Qatar, accusing it of links to extremist groups.

Saudi Arabia then issued Qatar with a list of demands, including shutting down media outlets Al Jazeera and London-based The New Arab, curbing relations with Iran, and closing a Turkish military base in the emirate.

Qatar denies the charges and says their move is aimed at curtailing its sovereignty.