Iran rejoins pilgrimage

MORE than two million Muslims from around the world were yesterday due to start the hajj pilgrimage at Islam’s holiest sites.

This year sees pilgrims from Shiite Iran return after a hiatus following a diplomatic spat between the Islamic republic and Sunni arch-rival Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities have mobilised vast resources in the hope of avoiding a repeat of a deadly 2015 stampede that left nearly 2300 people dead.

Saudi Interior ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki said more than 100,000 security personnel had been deployed along the hajj route.