13 June, 2017
In a separate interview with the Wall Street Journal, Al Baker said he would not delay any plane orders or put expansion plans in other countries, such as India, on hold.
Some of Qatar's policies, such as its support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, clash with U.S. priorities; yet it also hosts a USA military base that is crucial to the fight against Islamic State.
Qatar on Monday denounced the sanctions imposed against Doha by Saudi Arabia and its allies as "unfair" and "illegal", as Britain announced talks to try to resolve the crisis.
Mauritania, a member of the Arab League, severed ties with Qatar following the lead of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt - while Gabon condemned Doha.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Tuesday met with the Saudi cabinet to discuss the country's stance on the Gulf crisis, Saudi media reported.
The statement said the initiative by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates "is not confined to Qatar alone as the potential of Qatar is very limited", but is "one initiative among many in the right direction that envisages full realization of regional security and stability".
"We still do not why they have taken these actions and isolated Qatar".
The statement from Sharif's office quoted him as saying he hopes the "current impasse in the Gulf will be resolved soon" in the best interest of the Muslim community.
Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani gives a press conference in Doha on May 25, 2017.
In a tweet on Monday, the carrier said it "welcomes the Saudi employees working on Qatar Airways Airbus A320, and invites anyone with the desire to join flynas and work among its crew".
Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the convention.
Qatar Airways offices were closed in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Qatar, which has yet to retaliate in the crisis, also could turn off supplies to those now opposing it as well, especially the United Arab Emirates, home to Dubai.
Al Thani reportedly hailed Iran as an "Islamic power" and criticized US President Donald Trump's policy towards Tehran. Qatar is one of the main sponsors for Sudan's Darfur mediation. France has economic and military ties with Qatar and other Gulf states. Qatar has begun shipping cargo through Oman to bypass the blockade and show it can survive the diplomatic row with its neighbours. According to various reports, it funds al-Qaeda, Hizballah, Hamas, and a host of other terrorist networks including the Muslim Brotherhood, and though it is supposedly a Sunni nation, it has aligned itself with Shiite Iran.
