Saudi Arabia invites Tehran to discuss Iranians’ Haj return

RIYADH // Saudi Arabia has asked Iran to discuss a return of its nationals to next year’s Haj, reports said yesterday.

Iranians missed this year’s pilgrimage after a major diplomatic row.

Al Hayat newspaper said that Mohammed Benten, the Saudi minister for Haj and Umrah, had started discussions with more than 80 countries, including Iran, to work out the details of next year’s Haj.

“Iran’s Haj delegation was in- vited to come to the kingdom” for preparations, the paper said. The Arab News newspaper said Riyadh would welcome pilgrims for Haj and the smaller Umrah rite “irrespective of their nationalities or sectarian affiliations, including Iranian pilgrims”.

More than 1.8 million faithful took part in this year’s Haj, but Iranians stayed at home after tensions between Riyadh and Tehran boiled over after a deadly stampede during last year’s pilgrimage.

Iran said 464 of its citizens were killed in the crush outside Mecca. Saudi authorities put the total death toll at 769.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are at odds over a raft of regional issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in which they support opposing sides.

Riyadh cut ties with Tehran in January after Iranian demonstrators torched its embassy and a consulate after the Saudis’ execution of a prominent Shiite cleric convicted of terrorism offences.

Riyadh has started discussions with 80 countries on the details of next year’s Haj