2024-01-08T14:25:36+00:00
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/ The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Monday, that it hopes to solve technical problems that hinder the travel of Iranians to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah soon, while it revealed the cancellation of two flights due to Riyadh not providing the final permits necessary for Iranian aircraft to enter Saudi airports.
Iran announced last December that the first Umrah flights would begin on the 19th of the same month after an agreement between Tehran and Riyadh to allow the return of Umrah flights after an eight-year hiatus.
But Iranian Airlines spokesman Hossam Qorban Ali told state television that this flight, and subsequent flights, were canceled because Riyadh had not provided the “necessary final permits” for Iranian aircraft to enter Saudi airports.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said during a press conference broadcast on Iranian television, “The concerned authorities… provided extensive information in this regard, and the delay is only a technical issue and has no political reason.”
He added, “Saudi Arabia is fully committed to this matter and the relevant institutions in our country are also making efforts to resolve this issue. We hope that the technical obstacle will be resolved as well.”
Saudi Arabia did not comment on the matter.
Kanaani pointed out that the head of the Iranian Hajj and Visitation Organization is in Saudi Arabia with a team of experts to solve the problems.
Representatives of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization are also in the kingdom to address these issues, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
China brokered an agreement in March, under which Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed full diplomatic relations that were severed in 2016 due to Riyadh’s execution of a Shiite cleric and the subsequent storming of the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
Since 2016, Iranians have performed the Hajj only, according to specific quotas.
Of December 2023, following a long-standing suspension of such trips. The Ministry expressed optimism that the issues preventing travel would be resolved quickly, allowing Iranian pilgrims easier access to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
This development comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to improve relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which have been strained for years. The resumption of Umrah flights is seen as a significant step towards fostering better ties and facilitating religious practices for Iranian Muslims.
Travel restrictions had previously complicated arrangements for Iranian worshippers wanting to perform the Umrah pilgrimage, a journey that many Muslims strive to undertake at least once in their lifetime. With the diplomatic thaw, stakeholders on both sides hope to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including tourism and religious affairs.