Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., has blocked arms sales to nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council in a bid to push the Middle Eastern countries into seeking a solution to the diplomatic crisis with Qatar.
Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the announcement Monday.
"I could not have been more pleased with the President's recent trip to Saudi Arabia," Corker wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a letter.
"Unfortunately, the GCC did not take advantage of the summit and instead chose to devolve into conflict. All countries in the region need to do more to combat terrorism, but recent disputes among the GCC countries only serve to hurt efforts to fight ISIS and counter Iran."
President Donald Trump announced an arms deal worth $110 billion to be made with Saudi Arabia in May, during his first foreign trip as commander in chief.
"Before we provide any further clearances during the informal review period on sales of lethal military equipment to the GCC states, we need a better understanding of the path to resolve the current dispute and reunify the GCC," Corker wrote.
Tillerson recently pushed for an end to the blockade on Qatar, saying countries who cut ties with the country are “stronger together," and that “the elements of a solution are available," according to the Washington Examiner.
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