Iran Denies Receiving Saudi Invite for Hajj Talks

Local Editor

Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization on Sunday dismissed reports that Saudi Arabia had invited the Islamic Republic to discuss a resumption of Iranians' participation in Hajj pilgrimage.

"Contrary to the report published by some media outlets regarding an invitation by Saudi Arabia for Iran's participation in this year's Hajj rituals, we have received no invitation," the new head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, Hamid Mohammadi, was quoted as saying in Iranian media reports on Monday.

The al-Hayat daily reported on Friday that Saudi pilgrims minister Mohammed Bentin had opened discussions with more than 80 countries, including Iran, to work out the details of the 2017 hajj.

"Iran's Hajj delegation was invited to come to the kingdom" for preparations, the paper said.

"No invitation from Saudi Arabia has been received by Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization or the foreign ministry," Mohammadi added.

Once the invitation was received, Iranians would only be able to take part in the hajj if "the Saudi side secures the conditions of dignity and security" for them, said Mohammadi.

He said Tehran is doing everything in its powers for resumption of the Hajj pilgrimage for Iranians so that Iranian pilgrims, like all other Muslims, can benefit from their undeniable right of participating in Hajj.

Also on Sunday, an Iranian lawmaker welcomed a resumption of Iranians' participation in Hajj pilgrimage, urging Riyadh to take required measures so that Iranians would be able to attend Hajj rituals.

"If Riyadh accepts responsibility, we would welcome the reopening of Hajj so that eager people can partake in the rituals," said Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtar.

He also urged Iranian officials to set preconditions for Iran's participation in this year's Hajj rituals.

The annual pilgrimage, which starts and ends in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, is a must for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford it.

More than 1.8 million faithful took part in 2016, but Iranians stayed at home for the first time in three decades after tensions between Riyadh and Tehran boiled over following a deadly stampede during the 2015 pilgrimage.

Iran said it lost 464 people in the crush outside Mecca.

On September 2, 2015, thousands of people lost their lives in a deadly crush after Saudi authorities blocked a road in Mina during a ritual, forcing large crowds of pilgrims to collide.

The crush was the deadliest incident in the history of the pilgrimage. According to an Associated Press count based on official statements from the 36 countries that lost citizens in the disaster, more than 2,400 pilgrims were killed in the incident.

Saudi Arabia claimed nearly 770 people were killed in the incident, but officials at Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization said about 4,700 people, including over 460 Iranian pilgrims, lost their lives.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team