Uncertain Status of Iranian Pilgrims' Dispatch to Hajj

While a member of the Iranian parliament has reported that the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims to this year's Hajj has been 'canceled', the head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization also stated that Saudi Arabia's 'delay' in issuing visas for Iranian Hajj officials could face the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims with a 'serious challenge' and 'we have now entered the red zone of Hajj timing'. Mohammad Hassan Asfari, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the parliament, said in an interview with IRIB News Agency on Sunday night, May 19, that the members of the Supreme Hajj Council have concluded that this year's Hajj is 'canceled'. He added, 'Considering that no agreement has been made between Iran and Saudi Arabia for the accommodation of pilgrims and signing contracts with hotels in Mina and Medina, and that such contracts should have been concluded by now, it seems that this year's Hajj is canceled.' He pointed out that a meeting was held in the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission with the presence of managers from the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, and the report presented in this meeting indicates that Saudi Arabia has no interest in accepting Iranian pilgrims for this year's Hajj. According to Mr. Asfari, Saudi Arabia has set 'conditions' for accepting Iranian pilgrims that are 'contrary to contracts and agreements between the two countries'. Saeed Ohadi, the head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, also stated on May 6 that Saudi officials have placed conditions regarding Iran's cultural programs during the Hajj, including 'slogans'. In April, several officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture, accused Saudi Arabia of 'obstruction' in the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims to Mecca. Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia has told Iran that it will issue visas to the Iranian delegation in a third country, but Iran insists that if the Swiss government is protecting Saudi interests, it should issue visas to Iranian officials in Iran, and a visa request from a third country is unacceptable for Tehran. Meanwhile, the head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization said on Sunday that after 20 days, Saudi Arabia has still not responded to four requests from the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization of Iran that are 'related to the rights of Iranian pilgrims' and their 'security'. Saeed Ohadi added, 'We need a month to sign contracts for housing, logistics, and transportation with the Saudi side, and we have now entered the red zone of Hajj timing.' Hossein Jaberi Ansari, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, also stated on May 15 that if Saudi Arabia does not ensure the safety of pilgrims, Iranian pilgrims will not be dispatched to the Hajj this year. Following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, in December of last year, the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad were set on fire by protesters against the execution of this Shia cleric, and after that, Saudi Arabia severed its relations with Iran. Previously, during the Mina incident that occurred in Saudi Arabia last September, more than 460 Iranian pilgrims were killed. In this context, the Minister of Culture accused Riyadh of obstructing the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims to the Hajj.