US, Qatar sign MoU to combat financing of terrorism

Tillerson said the agreement signed with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, had been under discussion for months.

“The agreement which we both have signed on behalf of our governments represents weeks of intensive discussions between experts and reinvigorates the spirit of the Riyadh summit,” Tillerson said at a joint news conference with Sheikh Mohammed, Reuters wrote.

U.S. President Donald Trump met representatives of Arab states during a visit to Saudi Arabia in May.

“The memorandum lays out a series of steps that each country will take in coming months and years to interrupt and disable terror financing flows and intensify counter terrorism activities globally,” Tillerson added, Reuters reported.

Sheikh Mohammed said the agreement was not linked to the crisis with the four Arab countries, which the United States fears could impact its military and counter-terrorism operations and increase Iran’s influence in the region, added Reuters.

Tehran has sent food supplies to Qatar and allows the country’s carrier to fly through its airspace, according to Reuters.