Saudi gives Iran written assurances over pilgrims’ security: Minister

Iran’s culture minister says Saudi Arabia has provided “written assurances” that it will meet all of Tehran’s conditions with regard to ensuring security for Iranian pilgrims in the upcoming Hajj ceremony.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the cabinet meeting on Thursday, Reza Salehi Amiri underlined Tehran’s resolve to maintain the “dignity” of Iranian Hajj pilgrims, the Iran newspaper reported.

“For this aim, we have taken all the possible paths. The Saudi Arabian side accepted the conditions required by Iran for [ensuring] the security of Hajj pilgrims and given [assurances] in writing,” he added.

The culture minister said that Iran has currently dispatched medical teams and different logistics to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, noting that the first group of Iranian pilgrims will be sent to Saudi Arabia on July 31.

“We normally monitor the situation and if there is any likelihood for an incident, we will follow it up at the senior levels of the [Iranian] establishment (top officials),” Salehi Amiri pointed out.

SS