Iran in talks with Saudi on solving Hajj pilgrimage disputes

Iran is in talks with Saudi officials to resolve the issues which hamper the dispatch of pilgrims to the annual Muslim ceremonies in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca, Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.

Most of the disputed issues have been resolved in the negotiations with Saudi Arabia, and hopefully the remaining problems would be settled in coming days, Iran's representative in Hajj and pilgrimage affairs, Ali Qazi-Askar, said.

Iran plans to send at least 80,000 nationals to Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage this summer provided that remaining issues are resolved in the ongoing talks with Riyadh, Qazi-Askar was quoted as saying.

An Iranian delegation travelled to Saudi Arabia on February 23 for the talks on the Hajj pilgrimage of Iranians.

Iran decided to withdraw from sending the pilgrims to the last year Hajj season, in which it cited the reason for fearing the safety of its pilgrims after the deadly stampede in Hajj of 2015.

More than 450 Iranians were among 2300 pilgrims who died in stampede in Mina area.

Source: Xinhua