Qatar is in talks with Iran and Turkey to secure food and water supplies amid concerns of possible shortages two days after its biggest suppliers, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, cut trade and diplomatic ties with the import-dependent country, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
“We are in talks with Turkey and Iran and other countries,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, adding that the supplies would be brought in through Qatar Airways cargo flights.
The official said there were enough grain supplies in the market in Qatar to last four weeks and that the government also had large strategic food reserves in Doha.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday said Ankara would continue to develop relations with Qatar.
“We will try hard to get this crisis in the Gulf resolved as soon as possible. We will continue to develop our relations with Qatar,” Erdoğan said at a fast-breaking iftar dinner with foreign ambassadors in Ankara.
Describing what has been going on as a “game,” Erdoğan rejected an accusation that Qatar supports terrorism.
“I do not approve of Qatar being seen as terror suspect. If this were the case, I would be the first president to take a stand against [Qatar],” Erdoğan said, adding: “Here a different game is played. We have not yet been able to find out who is behind this game.”
Erdoğan called on regional leaders to disappoint those who seek opportunities to further increase the tension in the region.