Iran Negotiates with Saudi Arabia for the Security of Iranian Pilgrims

Saeed Ohadi, the head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, stated that negotiations with Saudi officials regarding the security of Iranian pilgrims during the Hajj have reached an understanding. However, he mentioned, 'We are waiting for the Saudis' response regarding the issuance of Hajj visas, the place of issuance, and the use of domestic flight capacities.' Ohadi added that during discussions with the Saudis on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, they agreed to add 20 new measures to the contract for ensuring the safety of pilgrims based on Iran's proposals. Regarding the issuance of visas by the Saudi government, he said, 'We informed the Saudis that issuing visas in a third country is impossible, and they have two options: either facilitate visa issuance in Iran or issue airport visas for Iranian pilgrims, which the Saudis are currently considering.' Ohadi emphasized that the use of domestic flights is the right of Iranian pilgrims, noting that they have not yet reached an agreement with the Saudis on this matter. They proposed including last year's text regarding flight procedures in the contract or accepting a text prepared by the head of the country's aviation organization, to which the Saudis have not yet responded. Less than two weeks ago, Saudi Arabia revoked Mahan Airlines' permission to use its airspace and land at its airports, citing violations of flight safety regulations. Mahan Airlines is one of Iran's main airlines, which previously transported many passengers between Iran and Saudi Arabia before the suspension of Hajj trips. Last year, relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia soured following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, and attacks by groups in Tehran and Mashhad on the diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia, leading Riyadh to unilaterally sever diplomatic relations with Tehran. Ohadi also discussed the issue of compensation for the victims of the 2015 Hajj disaster, stating, 'They announced that the arrangements for compensating the martyrs of the crane collapse incident are ready and will be finalized within a month. We inquired about the Mina incident, and they responded that decisions would be made after addressing the crane collapse victims.' Last year's Hajj ceremony saw dozens killed and injured due to a crane collapse at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, including eleven Iranian pilgrims. Additionally, during the Mina ceremony, hundreds of pilgrims of various nationalities were trampled, with Iranian officials stating that a total of 465 Iranian pilgrims lost their lives in that incident. The Mina incident led to a new wave of tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which have persisted for years. In this context, Switzerland has taken on the responsibility of protecting Iran's interests in Riyadh.