Iran concerned over safety of Hajj pilgrimage

Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi told Mehr News correspondent that the new political changes in Saudi Arabia, namely the controversial appointment of Mohammad bin Salman as the new crown prince in the wake of recent developments in Persian Gulf Arab states’ relations with Qatar, have caused certain concerns for Iran over the safety of Iranian pilgrims in the upcoming Hajj.

While Iran has serious and rightful concerns about the competence of Saudi authorities to manage the Hajj rituals, the Islamic Republic responded positively to the Saudi invitation for the 2017 pilgrimage under the condition that all safety measures be provided for the pilgrims. The Mina stampede during Hajj rituals in September 2015 led to the loss of lives of about 465 Iranian nationals. Saudi Arabia has refused to assume responsibility and pay compensations to the families of victims.

Boroujerdi went on to add that certain measures will be reviewed at the Security and Foreign Policy Committee before the date of dispatching Iranian pilgrims to Hajj.