Saudi Arabia and three other Gulf states have issued Qatar with a 13-point list of demands, including the cutting of diplomatic ties with Iran and the closure of its Al Jazeera television channels.
Qatar has been given ten days to comply, although the message does not say what will happen if it fails to do so.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The list from Saudi Arabia, together with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which have been blockading Qatar since early June, was obtained by the Associated Press and a translation was published in the Dubai-based Khaleej Times newspaper today.
It is likely to ratchet up tensions in the Gulf and lead to Qatari objections that its neighbours are trying to dictate its sovereign affairs, said the New Arab current affairs website.
Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told France 24 Doha would not accept any "foreign dictations".
He added that "Qatar had always abided by international laws and played a key role in the international coalition fighting [Isis]", reports Al Jazeera.
Doha has already refused to close Al Jazeera, while the country's ambassador to the US ambassador told the Financial Times this week that opponents "want to undermine our sovereignty".
-
Political cartoons for October 26Cartoons Sunday’s editorial cartoons include Young Republicans group chat, Louvre robbery, and more
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
Has Israel’s Qatar strike scuppered a ceasefire?Today’s Big Question Netanyahu ‘gambles’ on ‘overwhelming strength’ rather than diplomacy in attack on Hamas negotiation team in Doha
-
Israel targets Hamas leaders in Qatar airstrikeSpeed Read Hamas said five low-level leaders were killed in the attack
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
