3-hour meeting of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Planning Council in Mecca

According to the Hajj Information base, 3-hour meeting of the Planning Council of Supreme Leader's Delegation and the Hajj and Pilgrimage organization was held in Mecca to review the latest status of services to the Iranian pilgrims as well as the latest status of preparations for the days of Tashreeq in Hajj 1404. The meeting was chaired by Supreme Leader's representative in Hajj and Pilgrimage affairs and head of the Iranian pilgrims Hojjat al-Islam Seyed Abdolfattah Navvab.

In addition to Dr. Alireza Bayat, head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage organization, and a group of deputies and managers of Supreme Laeder Mission and Hajj headquarters, Mr. Alireza Shasti Karimi, director general of consular affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hassan Zarnegar, consul general of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Jeddah, Pirhossein Koolivand, head of the Red Crescent Society, and officials from some other organizations and bodies related to Hajj operations, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Airlines and the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation, were present at this meeting.

At the beginning of this meeting, Hojjat al-Islam Navvab, while thanking God for the good progress of affairs during this year's Hajj season, also commemorated the martyrs of the Bloody Friday of Hajj.

In the continuation of the meeting, Dr. Bayat presented a report on the latest status of Hajj operation, as well as some of his consultations and meetings during the past week, and said: fortunately, the last flight from Iran to Saudi Arabia took place on Saturday night, and due to the lack of delays and reduction of difficulties in flights, a historical record was registered.

He also referred to the phone call from Dr. Pezkian, the President of our country, and receiving a report on the latest status of the Hajj operations and said: during the phone call, a 20-minute report on the Hajj was given to Mr. President, and Mr. Pezeshkian also announced that he would take action wherever was needed.

Regarding his recent meeting with the Saudi Interior Minister, head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage organization also said that the meeting was held in a completely positive atmosphere and that the positions of the respected Saudi Interior Minister were also very positive.

According to Mr. Bayat, officials from the Hajj host country emphasized that the relationship between two countries should be focused on the future, and that Saudi Arabia is determined to build a good relation with Iran.

Referring to the meeting of ministers and Hajj chairman of Islamic countries in the city of Jeddah, with the presence of Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, and its side meetings, he said that these meetings were also very positive and useful.

head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage organization added: Taking the NUSUK card for pilgrims during the Hajj 1404 and carrying out some coordination and precautions to prevent heatstroke for pilgrims during the days of Tashreeq were among the issues emphasized at the meeting of Hajj chairman of the Islamic countries.

In another part of the meeting, Mr. Akbar Rezaei, Hajj and Umrah deputy at the Hajj and Pilgrimage organization expressed satisfaction with the status of flights on the outward journey to transport pilgrims to the Land of Revelation, and expressed hope that this situation would continue on the return flights as well.

Hajj and Umrah deputy at the Hajj and Pilgrimage organization also pointed to the constructive and better cooperation of the host country's authorities compared to previous years, and said that with the cooperation of related authorities of the host country, some previous concerns, including the time of evacuation from Mecca on the day of Tarwieh and the issue of transportation, have been largely resolved.

Mr. Rezaei also announced the preparations of the Iranian pilgrims' transportation forces and guides for the days of Tashriq, and said that theoretical, field training, and even readiness maneuvers for these units have been held.

Mr. Jahrooti Zadeh, director general of Security of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, also presented a report and announced that, thank God, no drugs were discovered in the airports of the host country during this year's Hajj season.

Dr. Marashi, director of the Red Crescent Hajj and Pilgrimage Medical Center, also gave a report on the health and treatment situation during the Hajj season in this meeting, saying that currently 26 Iranian pilgrims are hospitalized.

According to him, sofar the number of Iranian pilgrims who have died during Hajj 1404 has been six, three of whom died in the hospital, two in the hotel, and one in the shrine.

Head of the Red Crescent of Hajj and Pilgrimage Medical Center announced that from the beginning of the Hajj operation until Sunday (11 Khordad 1404), a total of 108,000 visits have been done by this center during Hajj 1404, of which 94,500 were general visits and about 13,500 were specialized visits.

In the continuation of the meeting, Mr. Pirhosein Koolivand, head of the Red Crescent organization, who was also present at the meeting, referred to the appropriate process of holding Hajj operation, and expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the "very good" and "accurate" positions of the Supreme Leader's Representative in Hajj and Pilgrimage affairs, head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage organization, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the arrest of an Iranian cleric, and said that with good information and proper management of Hajj, the atmosphere in this regard in our country is very positive.

Mr. Bayat also thanked the IRIB for its good reporting on the 1404 Hajj 1404 and the issue of the arrest of an Iranian cleric.

Mr. Kian Bakhsh, an expert from the Iranian Consulate in Saudi Arabia, who was also present at the meeting, said that over the past years and this year, we have witnessed a fundamental change in the performance of Hajj affairs.

Mecca's urban transportation officials, who were present at the meeting, also presented the latest report on the status of this unit. According to these officials’ report, 200 buses are responsible for transporting Iranian pilgrims at Mecca's stations, and the average per capita bus capacity has reached about 6 people per seat, which is considered a desirable per capita ratio.

Mr. Ghorbanali, who was present at the meeting as a representative of Islamic Republic of Iran Airlines, stated that Homa's average share in outbound flights delays was 7.6 minutes and the total average of all delays was 11 minutes. He said that this number is considered a record in Iranian Hajj operation.

He also presented a report on transferring Zamzam water bottles to Iran upon return, urging Iranian pilgrims not to carry water bottles upon return, as this is prohibited at the airports of host country, and this may cause problems and delays for flights.

Hojjat al-Islam Seyed Hosein Rukn al-Dini, cultural deputy of Supreme Leader's delegation, also referred to the cultural programs of the Tashreeq Days and said: regarding two jurisprudential rulings about the issue of shaving the head on Eid al-Adha and carrying an umbrella for throwing stones at Jamarat, the latest opinions of Maraj’ have been obtained and will be provided in writing to the clerics of the caravans.

Mr. Hassan Zarnegar, the Iranian Consul General in Jeddah, also expressing satisfaction with the cooperation of the host country officials, described the positions of the head of the Iranian pilgrims, as well as the chairman of Hajj and Pilgrimage organization, and the  Foreign Affairs Ministry officials regarding the arrest of a cleric as "very good," and said: "The host country, given its correct understanding regarding the improving relations between the two countries, returned the arrested cleric to Iran."

At the end of the meeting, Hojjat al-Islam Navvab while summarizing the raised points, issued orders for further coordination for the days of Tashriq as well as the return operation of Iranian pilgrims.