U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in New York, U.S., September 19, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed on Tuesday the importance of resolving Qatar's ongoing dispute with its neighbors and restoring unity in the region, the White House said.

At the meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Trump said he has "a very strong feeling" the dispute will "be solved pretty quickly, while the Qatari emir said he believes the U.S. mediation "will help a lot."

Meanwhile, "the president acknowledged Qatar's progress implementing the United States-Qatar bilateral memorandum of understanding on counterterrorism cooperation," said a White House statement, adding that Trump stressed additional steps should be taken to cut off funding for terrorists.

On June 5, the Saudi-led quartet severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a blockade on the Gulf nation, citing Doha's support for terrorism and extremism, interference in their internal affairs, and seeking closer ties with Iran. Qatar has strongly denied these charges.

Tensions were renewed last month when Qatar announced it would send back its ambassador to Iran, a rival of most Gulf nations.

Qatar recalled its envoy in Tehran in early 2016 in a show of solidarity with Saudi Arabia after the attacks on two Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.

Despite a flurry of diplomatic mediation efforts made by the United States, the European Union, and Kuwait in recent months, the Gulf standoff has shown no signs of abating.