Iranian Delegation of Hajj Leaves the Kingdom, Refuses to Sign Minutes of Concluding Arrangements of Iranian Pilgrims

Jeddah, May 27, 2016,

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued the following statement regarding the refusal of Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit’s mission to sign minutes of concluding arrangements of Iranian pilgrims:

Further to the statement issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on 08/05/1437H regarding refusal of the Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit’s mission to sign minutes of concluding arrangements of Iranian pilgrims for this Hajj season 1437H, and based on the keenness of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has responded to desire of the Chairman of Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit and the accompanying delegation to come to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for signing the minutes of concluding arrangements of Iranian pilgrims’ arrival to perform Hajj rituals for this Hajj season 1437H.

The ministry formally received the delegation and provided all facilitations to them, including enabling them to perform Umrah. After that, continuous meetings were held on 18-19/08/1437H for long hours. The two sides dealt with all topics that have been discussed in previous meetings. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah suggested a number of solutions for all points requested by the Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit as follows:

– Issuing visas electronically from inside Iran in accordance with mechanism agreed by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.

– Transporting pilgrims equally between the Saudi national carrier and Iranian national carrier.

– Approving the Iranian request by let it diplomatically represented through the Swiss embassy in order to take care of Iranian pilgrims’ interests where the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah immediately coordinated with the competent authorities to implement it.

But, at dawn on Friday, 20/08/1437H, the Iranian mission expressed its desire to leave to home without signing the minutes of arrangements of the Iranian pilgrims’ affairs.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is confirming that the mission of the Iranian Hajj and Visit Organization which refused to sign the minutes on arrangements for Iranian pilgrims for the Year 1437, will be responsible in front of Allah Almighty and its people for inability of the Iranian citizens to perform Hajj for this year.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has also clarified that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has stressed its categorical rejection to politicize Hajj rituals.

Upon directives of the Kingdom’s wise leadership, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is always ready to cooperate for serving the pilgrims and facilitating their arrival procedures.

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