Doha (CNN) Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have extended the deadline by 48 hours for Qatar to respond to a list of demands from the Saudi-led coalition, according to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The request for an extension came from the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, who has been acting as a mediator between the coalition and Qatar. He made the request after receiving assurances from the Qataris that they would still deliver their response to him by Monday, the original deadline, the state-run Qatar News Agency said. Qatar is at the center of the biggest diplomatic crisis in the Middle East in decades, which started in early June when nine allies, led by Saudi Arabia, froze ties with the country over its alleged support of terrorism.Trump speaks with leaders of three Gulf nationsSaudi-led coalition grants request for 48-hour deadline extension
Gargash said there would be "no big bang" when the deadline for the demands passed, but rather a gradual "turning of financial screws" and that he expected the standoff with _ to last for months.