Riyadh : Iranian pilgrims have begun arriving in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, marking a significant development despite recent geopolitical tensions between Riyadh and Iran.
According to Al Arabiya, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Hajj Ministry confirmed that the first group of Iranian pilgrims entered the country by air.
The update was shared via the broadcaster’s official social media channels, signaling the start of pilgrimage movements from Iran. The development comes after a period of heightened tensions in the region.
Iran had launched missile and drone strikes targeting Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, for over a month following US and Israeli actions against Tehran that began on February 28.
The situation de-escalated earlier this month when both sides agreed to a fragile ceasefire. Despite these challenges, the arrival of Iranian pilgrims is being viewed as an important indicator of diplomatic stability.
The participation of Iranian citizens in Hajj has historically reflected the state of relations between the two countries, especially after a prolonged suspension from 2016 to 2023 when Iranian pilgrims were not permitted to perform the pilgrimage.
Diplomatic ties between the two nations were severed in 2016 after protests in Tehran and Mashhad led to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions, following the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Relations were eventually restored in March 2023 through a China-brokered agreement.
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More recently, diplomatic engagement has cautiously resumed. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on April 9, marking the first official contact since the onset of the conflict.
Prior to that, Saudi authorities had summoned Iran’s ambassador on March 1 to protest the attacks. The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, is expected to begin in the last week of May.
Pilgrims from across the globe have already started arriving in Saudi Arabia, as preparations continue for the sacred journey to the holy city of Mecca.