Iran

‘Each and every Iranian pilgrim corpse must return home’

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Iran has called for the immediate return of the bodies of Iranian pilgrims who were killed in a Hajj crush in Saudi Arabia, a senior Iranian diplomat says.

Official talks are currently underway between Iranian Health Minister Hassan Qazizadeh-Hashemi and Saudi officials about how the pilgrims’ remains will be transported to Iran, said Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, on Wednesday, Press TV reported.
Determining the fate of the missing people and the transportation of “every single body” is a priority for Iran, he added.
“Communications are being carried out between the two countries to speed up affairs and Dr. Hashemi’s trip as the representative of the government has been very effective,” he noted.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hashemi — who is in Saudi Arabia along with a special delegation — said Iran would be the first country to receive the remains and transport them home.
He noted that his team had been granted access to the morgues in Mecca, where the victims’ bodies were being held.
Hashemi stressed that he had gained confirmation that none of the Iranian bodies would be buried in Saudi Arabia without permission from family members or the Iranian government.

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