Iran blames Trump for escalating Qatar diplomatic crisis

Iran has accused the US of setting the scene for the escalating Gulf diplomatic crisis during President Donald Trump's recent trip to the Saudi Arabia.

"What is happening is the preliminary result of the sword dance," Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted, in a reference to a traditional ceremonial dance that took place during Mr Trump's visit to the Saudi capital of Riyadh last month.Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as the Western-recognised governments of Yemen and Libya, severed their ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

"[Qatar] embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Isis and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly," Saudi state news agency SPA said. Iran, which Trump singled out as a key source of funding and support for extremist groups during his inaugural foreign trip, is the secondary target of Monday's decision by Saudi Arabia and its allies. The decision of the tiny energy rich country's neighbours to cut off its land, sea and air routes to the outside world is a "violation of its sovereignty," a statement from Qatar's foreign ministry said.

Doha has denied supporting militant groups. It described the crisis as "absolute fabrications".