Qatar Slams US Decision to End Sanctions Waivers for Purchase of Iranian Oil

Iranian—and United States—ally Qatar slammed the Trump Administration for its decision to end sanctions waivers that allowed eight countries to continue purchasing Iranian oil. The tiny Gulf state, which hosts the largest US air base in the Middle East, claimed the move would harm the economies of nations that depend on Iranian crude imports. Among those previously benefiting from the waivers were India, Turkey, Japan and China, which also denounced the White House. Many analysts consider Qatar part of an axis that includes Turkey and Iran, all of which have various competing interests with a group of other Middle East states led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The divide has been increasing since Riyadh imposed a blockade on Doha in October 2017, to which Ankara responded by deploying troops to Qatar. That foreign policy officials deem all of the countries in question US allies (besides Iran) evidences the tightrope Washington must walk in order to maintain steady relations with key players in a turbulent region.