Kuwait's ruler cautions the crisis between a quartet of Arab countries and Qatar "could see more complications" even as he continues to try and mediate an end to the diplomatic standoff.

Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al-Sabah made the comments before lawmakers in Kuwait's National Assembly, saying that "the crisis could see more complications that will have a negative effect regionally and internationally, and can harm Gulf nations and their people."

One immediate consequence is that the annual Gulf Cooperation Council summit, scheduled for December, is reportedly being delayed until next year.

The Gulf crisis is the worst to hit the region since the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 1981. With the support of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, the Saudis announced on June 5 that they were suspending all ties with Qatar.

These four Arab nations that cut ties with Qatar previously urged the tiny Gulf nation to commit to six principles on combating extremism and terrorism and to negotiate a plan with specific measures to implement them.

They initially made 13 demands, which Qatar also dismissed. The Qatari foreign minister said on July 31 that the crisis should be solved through diplomacy without touching Qatar's sovereignty and made it clear that Qatar will not accept any demands that are not in line with international law.