Iran-Saudi fallout over Hajj continues


Issue 1016 - 03 Jun 2016 | 1 minute read

The war of words between Riyadh and Tehran over this year’s Hajj has continued, after talks between the two sides broke down on 27 May. Iranians are almost certain to miss this year’s pilgrimage in September. Riyadh accuses Iran of politicising the process with foreign minister Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir saying Tehran’s goal was “evasiveness”, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on 29 May. Iran has blamed Riyadh for refusing to provide sufficient assurances over the safety of its citizens, following the death of some 2,000 people during a stampede last year. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani described the Saudi approach as “childish” and “meeting the interests of the Zionist regime”.

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