Zarif Criticizes Saudi Grand Mufti's Remarks on 'Iranians Not Being Muslims'

Following the remarks of Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, in response to a Hajj message from Ali Khamenei, the leader of Iran, stating that Iranians are 'not Muslims,' Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, said on Tuesday that the Islam of Iranians bears no resemblance to the extremism propagated by the 'Wahhabi Mufti' of Saudi Arabia. In a tweet, Zarif wrote: 'There is truly no similarity between the Islam of Iranians and the majority of Muslims with the racist extremism promoted by the Wahhabi Mufti and Saudi terrorism sponsors.' Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, in comments reported by the 'Makkah' newspaper on Tuesday, responded to Khamenei's message about Hajj, stating that Khamenei's remarks are 'not surprising' as Iranians are descendants of 'Zoroastrians.' The term 'Zoroastrians' is used by radical Arabs to refer to followers of Zoroastrianism, who consider fire a sacred element. This religion was the main faith of Iranians before the Arab invasion 1400 years ago. Abdulaziz Al Sheikh stated: 'We must understand that they (Iranians) are not Muslims, they are descendants of Zoroastrians, and their hostility towards Muslims, especially Sunnis, is ancient.' The Grand Mufti's remarks came a day after Khamenei accused Saudi officials of 'killing injured pilgrims' in the Mina disaster that occurred last year. Ayatollah Khamenei stated that 'the heartless and criminal men' of Saudi Arabia 'imprisoned the half-dead injured with the deceased in closed containers and instead of treatment and help or even providing water to their thirsty lips, they caused their martyrdom.' According to an estimate by the Associated Press, at least 2,426 people were trampled to death during the Mina disaster that took place in September 2015. Negotiations between the two countries for the participation of Iranian pilgrims in this year's Hajj have failed, leading Iran to accuse Saudi officials of obstruction. Tehran has stated that Iranian pilgrims will not participate in this year's event. The Hajj ceremony is set to begin next week. Last December, following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, protests were held outside the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad, which eventually led to protesters storming these diplomatic sites and causing damage. Following this attack, Saudi Arabia severed its relations with Iran.