Regional crises will not affect relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia

According to the Hajj Information Base, Hassan Zarnegar, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Jeddah, who was speaking at a meeting of Umrah officials of the Supreme Leader’s Mission Headquarters in the presence of the head of Iranian pilgrims and the head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, added: "Since the beginning of the Umrah operation, we have tried to serve our country’s valuable pilgrims."

Pointing out that "we represent the Islamic Republic of Iran in all matters, especially our country’s pilgrims, Mr. Zarnegar stated: “The two countries are consulting each other to control and manage the issues that are happening in the region.”

Emphasizing that relations between the two countries are moving in an expanding direction, the Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Jeddah stated: “We are looking forward to moving towards the commercial, economic and investment fields as the processes are opened and obstacles are removed, and to witness the presence of traders and investors from both sides in Iran and Saudi Arabia.”

Referring to the diplomatic follow-up of the issues of Iranian pilgrims to the land of revelation, Mr. Zarnegar stated: "The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Saudi Arabia met with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia and raised the issues affecting Iranian pilgrims during the past Umrah Hajj and upcoming Hajj, and in this regard, he also met and held talks with the Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia on security areas."

The Iranian diplomat stated that in meetings with officials of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the need to reduce the problems of Iranian pilgrims was emphasized, including taking appropriate measures to prevent heatstroke in Mina and arresting pilgrims, and stated: "Umrah and Tamattu pilgrims should be taught some issues to observe in the host country, because this country has regulations that must be observed.

The Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Jeddah added: "Most Umrah deaths occur in the last two days of the journey, which seems to require examination and pathology, although most of the pilgrims who die are elderly."

Mr. Zarnegar, noting that we have only one Iranian prisoner in Saudi Arabia since the Hajj and "we are trying to have him released, added: "Fortunately, we have included his details in the list of requests for pardons for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and we are trying to have him released as soon as possible and returned to his family."