Iranian Official Says Negotiations Held with Saudi over Umrah Pilgrimage
Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Sunday, Rashidian said Iran has laid down conditions for the resumption of the pilgrimage.
According to the official, Saudi Arabia should guarantee protection of the Iranian pilgrims’ dignity.
Another condition was opening of Iran’s consulate in Jeddah to facilitate taking care of legal and non-political issues of the pilgrimage, he said, adding that Saudi Arabia should also allow its citizens to visit Iran.
Rashidian said Riyadh is keen for receiving Iranian Umrah pilgrims as Saudi officials plan to attract 30 million pilgrims annually by 2030.
He also noted that 6 million Iranians are in line for making the Umrah pilgrimage.
Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to Ḥajj which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
Elsehwere in his remarks, Rashidan said a total of 88,555 Iranians performed Hajj in Saudi Arabia in the 2019 Hajj season.
http://iqna.ir/fa/news/3842254
