Qatari PM meets with UK military envoy in Doha

DOHA

Qatari Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani on Tuesday met with U.K. Middle East envoy Sir John Lorimer, with whom he reportedly discussed bilateral ties and regional developments.

Tuesday’s meeting was the latest in series of recent talks between Arab Gulf leaders and western delegations amid steadily mounting tension between the U.S. and Iran.

Earlier this month, the U.S. deployed a carrier strike group and bomber task force to the Persian Gulf, citing “intelligence” of an imminent Iranian attack on U.S. interests in the region.

On Monday, the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council met with a U.S. government delegation, while Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir has held a series of meetings with European diplomats.

Earlier this week, Riyadh called on Arab leaders to attend two upcoming Arab League summits to discuss perceived “threats to the region”.