Iran's Hajj Organization: Hajj Pilgrimage Cancelled

After months of conflict between Riyadh and Tehran, the Iranian Minister of Culture and the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization announced on Sunday, June 9, that the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims for the Hajj pilgrimage in 1995 has been cancelled, accusing Saudi officials of "obstruction." According to the IRNA news agency, Ali Jannati stated that Saudi officials were supposed to respond to the "points of concern" raised by Iranian officials regarding the participation of Iranian pilgrims in Hajj 95 by Sunday. He added: "However, given the nature of the interactions and statements from Saudi officials during two rounds of negotiations with the Iranian delegation and the creation of obstacles and obstructions, the performance of the Hajj pilgrimage is practically impossible." Meanwhile, the Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization issued a statement saying that due to the "continuation of obstructions" by Saudi Arabia, Iranian pilgrims would not be able to attend Hajj 95. According to this statement, the first round of negotiations for this year's Hajj was held three months late in late Farvardin due to the lack of cooperation from Saudi officials, which ended without agreement due to the refusal to accept Iranian officials' requests, including issuing visas within the country and using Iranian aircraft for transporting pilgrims. The statement noted that despite promises from Saudi officials to resolve consular issues during the second round of negotiations on June 5, "no written agreement" has been reached between the Saudi Foreign Ministry and the Swiss Foreign Ministry. The Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization also accused Saudi Arabia of "tying the Hajj to political issues" under the influence of the political atmosphere between the two countries and changing the usual memorandum of understanding regarding the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims to Hajj. Just hours before the Minister of Culture's remarks, Saeed Ohadi, head of the Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, stated that June 9 was the "last opportunity" for Saudi Arabia to express its "full agreement" with Iran's demands. According to Mr. Ohadi, the Saudi Minister of Hajj was not present at the last meeting of the two countries' officials in Saudi Arabia and had requested Iranian officials to sign the Hajj agreement over the phone, stating that "I personally commit to fulfilling Iran's demands later." The head of the Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization also announced that Iranian officials did not accept the Saudi Minister of Hajj's request. Mr. Ohadi had previously stated that the Islamic Republic had set four conditions for the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims to Hajj 95: "ensuring the security of Iranian pilgrims," "using Iran's air fleet for transporting pilgrims," "issuing visas within Iran," and "utilizing consular services in Saudi Arabia." On the other hand, Iranian officials stated that Saudi Arabia had placed conditions regarding Iran's programs during the Hajj, including "slogans" and holding "celebrations and conferences." The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced in a statement on Friday, June 7, that the Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization delegation returned to Tehran without signing the agreement for organizing Iranian pilgrims. Saudi Arabia had previously denied Iranian officials' claims that Riyadh was preventing Iranians from attending this year's Hajj pilgrimage. However, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, accused Saudi Arabia on Saturday night, June 8, in a television program of "interfering" in the Hajj issue with "political relations." He added: "Saudi Arabia has wasted time and closed all avenues for Iran, and if Hajj does not take place, the responsibility lies with the Saudis." Mr. Jaberi Ansari emphasized that Saudi Arabia perceives itself as facing Iran on various issues and has long based its policy on "tension" with Iran. Following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, last December, the embassy of that country in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad were set on fire by protesters against his execution, after which Saudi Arabia severed its relations with Iran. Previously, during the Mina incident last September in Saudi Arabia, over 460 Iranian pilgrims were killed. The policies of the Islamic Republic in the region, including in Syria and Yemen, have conflicted with the policies of some regional countries, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, in recent years. While Tehran supports Bashar al-Assad, Saudi Arabia supports groups opposing the Syrian government. In the Yemen war, Iran supports the Shia Houthi militants and supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, while Saudi Arabia is currently bombing the positions of the Shia Houthi militants to support the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi in Yemen.