Iran must be punished for its interference in region: Saudi FM

Trump's call to Qatari ruler Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, a key US ally, came as a senior Emirati official told AFP that Gulf Arab states were not seeking regime change in Doha.

Shortly after Trump's tweet, the White House released a statement saying that the US President and King Salman discussed ways to prevent terror financing and eliminate extremism in any country in the region.

Confidence Qatar's state finances is tumbling in the wake of a diplomatic row that has seen neighbouring states such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain cut ties.

Jordan has reduced its diplomatic status with Qatar, giving the Qatari Ambassador in Amman just 48 hours to leave the country, reported Al-Arabiya.

Bahrain on Thursday followed the UAE in announcing that expressing sympathy for Qatar over the sanctions was an offence punishable by jail.

But the visit came after Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash told The Associated Press that Qatar has "chosen to ride the tiger of extremism and terrorism" and now needed to pay the price, despite Qatar long denying the allegation.

As the Qatar crisis continues to spiral, Turkey has offered to mediate and is now trying to fast-track legislation to send more of its troops to a Turkish base in the Gulf state.

US President Donald Trump waded into the dispute on Tuesday, but seemed to only muddy the waters.

"Qatar has to stop its support of groups such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood", Jubeir said in statements on Tuesday in Paris. That base, the AL Udeid Air Base is the main regional center for U.S. air missions in the ongoing fight against Daesh.

Gabriel earlier told the "Handelsblatt" newspaper he was concerned about escalating tensions and the US' strategy of "pure confrontation" with Iran, including arms sales to Saudi Arabia. "I am very concerned with the dramatic escalation and the consequences for the whole region".

"And we hope that our brother Qatar will now take the right steps in order to end this crisis".

Rival ratings agency S&P Global cut its rating on Qatar on Wednesday to AA- and put the rating on CreditWatch with negative implications, meaning there was a significant chance of a further downgrade.

Given the uncertainties regarding Qatar's response and the measures that may be imposed, S&P will assess the impact of the diplomatic spat by its next scheduled review on Aug 25.

"U.S. President Trump's recent giant military contracts which Persian Gulf monarchies raise the risk of a new spiral in arms sales", Gabriel warned in an interview with the Handelsblatt daily to appear on Wednesday.