Sputnik - Tehran seems to be able to get benefits from the Qatar-centered diplomatic row, intelligence firm Soufan Group said.





WASHINGTON (Sputnik)�� Iran is emerging as�a major beneficiary of�a Saudi-led blockade of�Qatar, supplying food and other goods to�the small Persian Gulf nation and increasing engagement with�Kuwait and Oman, Gulf nations that are far less hostile toward�Tehran, private intelligence firm Soufan Group said in�a report on�Friday.
"Iran has delivered good exports to�Qatar to�compensate for�Qatar�s reliance on�Saudi food supplies that have been cut off," the report stated. "Iran also has redoubled its efforts to�engage not only Qatar but�also Kuwait and Oman, in�particular by�sending several naval vessels on�a port visit to�Oman after�the rift erupted."


The report also warned that a prolonged dispute between�Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council nations would interfere with�the seamlessness of�US operations in�the Gulf, especially a US effort to�construct a regional ballistic missile defense system to�neutralize Iran�s increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile force.


On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Yemen severed ties with�Qatar, citing the nation�s support for�militant Islamist groups such as�the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and affiliated organizations including Hamas.

The move followed a visit by�President Donald Trump to�Saudi Arabia, in�which the US president broadly focused on�efforts to�isolate Iran and counter funding for�terrorists in�the Middle East.