'Purely Not True': UAE FM Denies Responsibility for Qatar News Agency Hack

United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash denied on Monday US media reports that it was behind the hacking of the Qatari news agency that led to a diplomatic crisis.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Speaking to reporters following a Chatham House speech in London, Gargash said that the Washington Post story was "purely not true," adding that it "will die" soon.

The newspaper cited US intelligence officials as saying they have learned about the UAE's alleged involvement in the May 24 breach of the Qatari news agency after analyzing the gathered information of senior UAE government members discussing the plan and its implementation a day prior to the attack.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates broke off diplomatic relations and communication with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and interfering in their internal affairs. The Maldives, Mauritius, and Mauritania followed suite, while Jordan and Djibouti reduced the level of their diplomatic missions in Qatar.

In late June, Kuwait acting as a mediator in the crisis, handed over to Doha the ultimatum of the four Arab states with 13 demands, including the requests to severe Qatar’s relations with Iran, close Turkey’s military base in Qatar and shut down Al Jazeera TV channel, as well as to end support for the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

On July 5, the four Arab states confirmed Doha's refusal to comply with their demands and expressed regret over such a position.