Iran warns Saudi Arabia over Hajj problems

A senior official has hinted that Iran may stop sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj if the kingdom refuses to resolve visa and travel issues.

“If no agreement is reached on these issues, Saudi Arabia will be responsible for shutting the way to the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said on Wednesday, Press TV reported.

The spokesman urged cooperation during a televised interview, advising Riyadh against letting its political preferences affect the important Islamic tradition.

Jaberi Ansari said the Saudi government has refused to act on “its recurrent assertions that it would not let political disputes get in the way of the issue of Hajj.”

“Although Saudi Arabia does not have an embassy in Iran, Switzerland represents its interests,” Jaberi Ansari said.

Tehran has said it is ready to swiftly issue visas for as many Saudi visa officers required to perform the procedure at the Swiss diplomatic mission or another venue in Tehran as necessary, he added.

Saudi Arabia has also insisted that third-country airlines have to transport the pilgrims, while the two countries would previously each share half of the responsibility for the air travels.

“It is obvious that a non-normal status is not acceptable to Iran,” the Foreign Ministry official said.

“There is still time,” the spokesman, however, said, adding, “We hope Saudi Arabia changes its wrong policy.”

SS