Qatar has never entertained terrorism anywhere in the world, yet that very false allegation is the basis for the recent blockade on it by Gulf neighbours.

Qatar’s foreign minister HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the country had a good record of combating and countering terrorism and the US was weclome to verify this fact, reported Gulf Times.

He said Qatar has taken steps against funds going to terrorist organisations and Washington can verify that Doha has not supported terrorism.

Speaking at the Arab Centre in Washington, DC, he said the siege of his country by its neighbours is a clear act of aggression ‘that violated international law and against its sovereignty.’

“Qatar is prepared to work together with other Gulf countries blockading it in order to reach a resolution to the diplomatic crisis,” he said. However, he clarified that his country would not discuss any measures that impinge on its sovereignty.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed sanctions on it on June 5, accusing it of supporting terrorism. The allegation is rejected by Doha.

“The response of Qatar has been purposefully measured, yet unequivocal. These hostile actions were based on unsubstantiated claims and false assumptions. Evidence is yet to be presented,” Sheikh Mohamed said in Washington DC.

The blockading countries had submitted a list of 13 demands, which Qatar has rejected saying it neither reasonable nor actionable.

United States and Germany have added their weight to Qatar’s claim, putting the blockading neighbours on the back foot.

He  said Qatar was working with the US and Kuwait to respond to a list of demands presented by its Arab neighbours.

“Regarding the ten days deadline, we’re working together with the Americans and the Kuwaitis in order to prepare the proper (responses) ... to the list which has been submitted to us,”  Sheikh Mohamed said.

In a statement he said: “We cannot sever links with so-called Islamic State, Al Qaeda and Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah because no such links exist. And we cannot expel any members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard because there are none in Qatar.”

said the demands were ‘meant to be rejected’ and that they informed Tillerson that the demands were ‘unrealistic.’