The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that a group of 10 Iranian diplomats departed for Saudi Arabia on Thursday, August 12, to follow up on matters related to Hajj. Bahram Qasemi stated on Friday, August 13, in an interview with Tasnim News Agency that this group was supposed to travel to Riyadh about 40 days ago, but their visas were issued on Wednesday. According to officials from the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, these 10 individuals are employees of the consular section of the Foreign Ministry. Saudi Arabia severed its relations with Iran after attacks on its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad in December 2015. Following an agreement for the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in 2017, Tehran requested that a consular delegation from Iran be stationed in the country during Hajj to address consular issues related to Iranian citizens. Iranian pilgrims last participated in Hajj in 2015. At that time, due to overcrowding during the passage of pilgrims through Mina, over two thousand people lost their lives, including more than 460 Iranians. Verbal disputes between Iranian and Saudi officials after this incident and their failure to agree on conditions prevented Iranian pilgrims from attending Hajj in 2016. However, on Tuesday, August 10, the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia embraced each other and had a brief conversation at the Executive Committee meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. Following this, some media reported the possibility of Iran's foreign minister attending this year's Hajj ceremony. Nevertheless, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry denied these reports on Friday, stating that Mr. Zarif has no plans to attend this year's Hajj. Saudi Arabia has set conditions for the participation of Iranian pilgrims in Hajj, including holding the Dua-e-Kumayl prayer in an enclosed space. Meanwhile, ISNA reported that the first Dua-e-Kumayl prayer for Iranian pilgrims was held in an enclosed space on Thursday evening. So far, 11,000 Iranian pilgrims have entered Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj. A campaign has been formed on social media to boycott this year's Hajj, which officials from the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization have strongly criticized. Additionally, Ali Qazi Askar, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Hajj and Pilgrimage affairs, previously noted that the atmosphere within the country regarding Iranian pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia is 'somewhat tense' and urged the media to 'calm the atmosphere.'
10 Iranian Diplomats Have Departed for Saudi Arabia to Follow Up on Hajj Affairs
A group of 10 Iranian diplomats has traveled to Saudi Arabia to manage Hajj affairs after a long hiatus in Iranian participation due to past tensions. This follows a recent thaw in relations, highlighted by a brief meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries. The situation remains sensitive, with ongoing public campaigns against the pilgrimage.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Ten Iranian diplomats have traveled to Saudi Arabia to manage Hajj affairs, marking a significant step in improving relations between the two countries after years of tension. This visit follows a recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia, indicating a potential thaw in diplomatic relations.
- Iranian pilgrims last participated in Hajj in 2015 due to diplomatic tensions and a tragic incident that year.
- 11,000 Iranian pilgrims have entered Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj, despite a social media campaign calling for a boycott.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran and Saudi Arabia have had a tumultuous relationship, particularly since the 2015 attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. The Hajj pilgrimage is a critical event for Muslims, and Iran's participation has been contentious due to past incidents.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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