Tehran slams Riyadh for politicizing Hajj pilgrimage

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari censured Saudi Arabia for its attempts to politicize the issue of Hajj pilgrimage and its refusal to cooperate with the Islamic Republic to facilitate the travel of Iranian pilgrims to the Arab country for the upcoming Hajj.

Speaking to reporters at his weekly press briefing in Tehran on Monday, Jaberi Ansari pointed to a delay by Riyadh in holding negotiations with Tehran on preparation for the upcoming Hajj rituals, saying that Saudi Arabia has not fulfilled its commitments.

Unfortunately, despite Riyadh’s claims that Hajj pilgrimage is a “non-political issue”, the Saudi government delayed issuing visas to the members of an Iranian delegation tasked with facilitating Hajj affairs, he stated.

Jaberi Ansari further said Iran’s policy, unlike that of Saudi Arabia, is avoiding escalation of tensions, but warned that Tehran’s patience has limits.

SS