By supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, Doha was stoking the possibility for a coup in neighbouring countries, spurred by Yousef Al Qaradawi, the leader of the organisation, who was based in Qatar.

Relations were restored between the countries in November 16, 2014, in what is known as the Riyadh Agreement. The accord, which was signed by the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, committed the countries to non-interference in the internal affairs of others.

It was the last chance the quartet given to Doha before cutting relations and isolating it in the boycott last year.

The four will not return to the negotiating table with Qatar until a list of 13 demands and principles are agreed to by Doha.

They include that the rogue nation will fulfil its obligations to the Riyadh pact, close down Al Jazeera, and stop cultivating the close relations with Tehran that led to a major trade conference and reopening of reopening of the Iran-Qatar Joint Economic Commission last month.

Doha received a delegation of 70 officials and businessmen from Iran at the two-day conference, to try to plug the damage to its economy caused by the boycott of the four neighbours and trading partners.

The support for Tehran – which is interfering in the affairs of other countries through its proxies such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, as well as its own Republican Guard Corps – has further emphasised the concerns of the Quartet.

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