White House official says Trump, Tillerson on ‘same page’ over Qatar crisis

A senior White House official told reporters on Friday that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were on the "same page" on Qatar.

"The United States wants a resolution to the situation but it wants a resolution on terms consistent with the principles the president laid out in Riyadh,” the official said, according to Reuters news agency.

The official added that Trump was concerned about the humanitarian impact of the crisis but also Qatar's support of "terrorist finance."

The remarks were in response to reports that Trump was potentially hindering the US Department of State's efforts to ease heightening tensions, with statements from Trump and Tillerson that were perceived as conflicting.

Trump on Friday accused Qatar of being a "high level" sponsor of terrorism following the Arab states’ move to tighten their squeeze on Qatar by putting dozens of figures with links to the country on terrorism blacklists.

Tillerson, meanwhile, said he expected all parties to find a resolution, demanding that Qatar, as well as the other countries, take steps to curtail support for terrorism.

The crisis is a major diplomatic test for the United States, which is a close ally of countries on both sides. Trump has called key players in the region since they severed ties with Qatar on Monday.

Qatar's ally Turkey has rushed to its side with plans to send troops.

(With Reuters)