Amir-Abdollahian: Two Iranian Pilgrims Detained in Saudi Arabia Released

Hosseini Amir-Abdollahian, the Arab and African Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, stated on Thursday, October 8, that two Iranian pilgrims detained in Saudi Arabia in recent days have been released. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, the Deputy Foreign Minister said, "Based on the official information we have, we had two detained pilgrims in recent days who have been released." On Thursday, October 2, during part of the Hajj rituals in Mina, hundreds of pilgrims of various nationalities were trampled to death. The Associated Press has reported that contrary to Saudi Arabia's official figures, over 1,360 people were killed in the Mina incident. According to the latest reports, at least 456 Iranians lost their lives in this incident. Iranian officials state that 69 individuals, including Ghazanfar Roknabadi, former Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Ahmad Fihima, deputy head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry's ceremonial representation department, and a former commander of the IRGC, are missing following this incident. The Arab and African Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, in response to the question of whether there is a possibility that the 69 pilgrims reported missing have been detained by the Saudi government, stated: "So far, all hospitals where it was suspected that Mina victims might be present have been thoroughly inspected, and unfortunately, none of our dear ones have been present in these hospitals in the past four days." Hosseini Amir-Abdollahian regarding reports about the status of the missing said: "Conflicting news exists regarding the possibility of prisoners or detainees, but we cannot confirm this news until the status of the 69 missing is definitively determined." He added: "Regarding the remaining missing, it is the Saudi government from whom we have serious demands, and the status of each of these dear ones must be clarified for the Islamic Republic of Iran." The Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran also mentioned the status of Ghazanfar Roknabadi and Ahmad Fihima, saying: "Unfortunately, these two dear colleagues of ours remain on the list of the missing, and we hope their status is determined as soon as possible so that their families can be relieved of their worries." Meanwhile, Ali Qazi Asgar, representative of Ayatollah Khamenei in Hajj and Pilgrimage affairs, stated on Thursday that "the detention or remaining of a number of Iranian pilgrims in Saudi hospitals is absolutely not true." In recent days, officials from Hassan Rouhani's government, including the Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education, and the Deputy Legal Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, have stated that some of the missing Iranian pilgrims have likely been detained by Saudi security forces. The Mina incident and the deaths of Iranian pilgrims have heightened tensions between Tehran and Riyadh. Iranian officials accuse the Saudi government of mismanagement during the "Mina incident."