Amirabdollahian: Arrest of 30 Iranians in Mina Not Confirmed

Hussein Amirabdollahian, the Deputy Minister for Arab and African Affairs of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on Saturday, October 4, that after investigation, the report regarding the arrest of 30 Iranians by Saudi Arabia is not accurate. However, the arrest of two reporters from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) is under review. According to ISNA, Amirabdollahian mentioned in an interview with Iranian state television: 'Last night we received news that about 30 Iranian pilgrims are in prisons due to this incident, but after discussions with Mr. Qazi Asgar (the representative of the Supreme Leader for Hajj) and also with the Iranian embassy and consulate in Riyadh and Jeddah, they did not confirm this news.' The Deputy Minister added: 'Regarding the journalists mentioned by the Minister of Culture, Saudi Arabia has had such records in the past, and we are following up on this matter.' Ali Jannati, Iran's Minister of Culture, had stated on Saturday that it is likely that two IRIB journalists listed as missing in the Mina incident may have been arrested by the Saudi government. The Minister also noted that he has no information about the possible arrests of several missing persons by Saudi Arabia, but it is clear that the Saudi government has exerted significant pressure on Iranian pilgrims in recent days, and he does not rule out the possibility that some Iranian journalists have been arrested. This is not unexpected from Saudi Arabia. The Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization published the names of at least 336 Iranian pilgrims who have gone missing during the 'Mina incident.' The list includes the name of a former Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, a commander of the IRGC, two IRIB journalists, and several members of the 'Leadership Mission.' Reports indicate that Ahmad Fayyema, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Protocol Office, is also among the missing in the Mina incident. Meanwhile, Hamid Mohammadi, the Deputy of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, announced on Saturday that 41 more Iranian pilgrims from the 'Mina incident' have been identified. According to IRNA, he stated that the latest number of missing Iranians in the 'Mina incident' is 325. The report indicates that 136 Iranian pilgrims were killed and 103 injured in the 'Mina incident.' Former Iranian Ambassador to Slovenia Killed Reports indicate that Mohammad Rahim Aqaipour, former ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Slovenia, was killed in the 'Mina incident.' Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated on Saturday: 'Unfortunately, one of our colleagues in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lost his life while performing his duties, and we learned that Aqaipour, the former ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Slovenia, lost his life in this incident.' According to Fars, Mohammad Rahim Aqaipour was the first Iranian ambassador to Slovenia, appointed during the tenure of former Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. In this context, Iran summoned the Saudi chargé d'affaires for the third time due to the Mina incident.