Within the newest dispute between the 2 regional rivals, “after two collection of negotiations with none outcomes due to obstacles raised by the Saudis, Iranian pilgrims will sadly not be capable of participate within the hajj” pilgrimage, anticipated to happen this yr in September, he stated, quoted by state tv.
Saudi officers have stated an Iranian delegation wrapped up a go to to the dominion on Friday with out reaching a last settlement on preparations for hajj pilgrims from the Islamic republic.
The Saudi hajj ministry stated it had provided “many options” to satisfy a string of calls for made by the Iranians in two days of talks.
Settlement had been reached in some areas, together with to make use of digital visas which could possibly be printed out by Iranian pilgrims, as Saudi diplomatic missions stay shut in Iran, it stated.
Riyadh minimize ties with Tehran in January after Iranian demonstrators torched its embassy and a consulate following its execution of a outstanding Shiite cleric.
Shiite Iran and predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia are at odds over a raft of regional points, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen during which they help opposing sides.
Earlier this month, Iran had accused its regional rival of in search of to “sabotage” the hajj, a pillar of Islam that religious Muslims should carry out at the least as soon as throughout their lifetime if they’re in a position.
Tehran stated Riyadh had insisted that visas for Iranians be issued in a 3rd nation and wouldn’t permit pilgrims to be flown aboard Iranian plane.
However the Saudi hajj ministry stated Friday that Riyadh had agreed to permit Iranians to acquire visas by means of the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which has taken care of Saudi pursuits since ties have been severed in January.
Riyadh additionally agreed to permit some Iranian carriers to fly pilgrims to the dominion regardless of a ban imposed on Iranian airways following the diplomatic row between the 2 nations, the ministry stated.
Final week’s talks have been the second try by the 2 nations to succeed in a deal on organising this yr’s pilgrimage for Iranians after an unsuccessful first spherical held in April in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi ministry stated on the time that the Iranian Hajj Organisation can be held accountable “in entrance of God and the individuals for the lack of its pilgrims to carry out hajj this yr.”
One other contentious concern has been safety, after a stampede finally September’s hajj killed about 2,300 overseas pilgrims, together with 464 Iranians.