Riyadh/Dubai — The US said it would seek to defuse a growing rift between its energy-rich Gulf allies after Saudi Arabia led a drive to isolate Qatar by cutting off air and sea transport and closing the tiny nation’s only land border. President Donald Trump wants to "de-escalate" the crisis and is committed to holding talks with all parties, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Monday. Earlier, the Saudis and three regional allies — the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain — suspended flights and sea travel to Qatar, escalating a week-old row and sending Qatari stocks plunging, although there has been no immediate effect on Gulf energy exports. Saudi Arabia accused its fellow Gulf Co-operation Council member of supporting a range of violent groups, from proxies of Shiite Muslim Iran to the Sunni militants of Islamic State. Qatar dismissed the charges as baseless, and said the Saudis were seeking to dominate their smaller neighbour. Some analysts said the pressure m...
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