RIYADH, 05 December, 2020, (TON): The remarks come just hours after counterpart from mediator Kuwait described ongoing crisis talks as ‘fruitful’.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has expressed hopefulness that Qatar and Saudi Arabia are close to an agreement to end a dispute that has caused uneven relationship among Gulf neighbours for more than three years.

Speaking to Italy’s annual Mediterranean Dialogues on Friday Prince Faisal bin Farhan said “We’ve made significant progress in the last few days.”

“We hope that this progress can lead to a final agreement which looks in reach, and I can say that I am somewhat optimistic that we are close to finalising an agreement between all the nations in the dispute to come to a resolution that we think will be satisfactory to all,” the prince said.

However, the other three nations Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, boycotting Qatar did not immediately admitted any progress on agreement.

Prince Faisal’s remarks came just hours after the top diplomat from mediator nation Kuwait described the ongoing talks over the crisis as “constructive and fruitful.”

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser al-Sabah said on Friday there was progress in resolving the dispute but stopped short of announcing any breakthrough in the dispute.

Following the statement, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani thanked Kuwait for its mediation.

Earlier on Friday, Al Thani also said there has been movement on resolving the diplomatic dispute.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, he hoped any agreement between Qatar and the boycotting countries would be made on a “foundation that is lasting”.

“We are very hopeful that the dispute between the Saudis and the Qataris can be resolved,” Pompeo added. “We’re going to keep working to facilitate conversations and dialogues.”

U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner had held talks in Doha on Wednesday following a visit to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing Doha of sponsoring terrorism. Qatar has repeatedly denied the accusations saying as baseless.