Washington: The US secretaries of state and defence on Tuesday called on all sides in the dispute between Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE to calm tensions among the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) members.
"It is critical that all parties minimise rhetoric, exercise restraint to avoid further escalation and work toward a resolution," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at a joint appearance of the US and Qatari foreign and defence ministers.
Last June the UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, cut off travel and trade ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and their arch-rival Iran. Doha denies the charges.
"A united Gulf Cooperation Council bolsters our effectiveness on many fronts, particularly on counterterrorism, defeating ISIS Daesh, and countering the spread of Iran's malign influence," said Defence Secretary James Mattis.
"It is thus critical that the GCC recovers its cohesion as the proud Gulf nations return to mutual support through a peaceful resolution that provides for enhanced regional stability and prosperity," he added.
The two men spoke along with their Qatari counterparts after the first of what is to become an annual US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue.