A+ A-

Saudi Arabia, Iran agree in principle on Iranian Pilgrims' visits

JEDDAH, May 25 (KUNA) -- Saudi Arabia and Iran have reached an agreement in principle to arrange performance of pilgrimage, or Hajj, for Iranian pilgrims this year, a senior Saudi official said Wednesday, a day before the official agreement to be signed.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umra Hussain Al-Shareef said a special minute was signed between the ministry and Saeed Ohadi, head of Iran's Hajj agency.
Al-Shareef was quoted by the Riyadh online newspaper as saying the final agreement would be signed tomorrow Thursday.
He said the Saudi side informed the Iranian delegation that they wold not allow, as per the Kingdom's rules, some specific rituals the Iranian pilgrims do.
The Saudi side, he added, underlined that all countries were treated equally and all were complying with the Saudi rules.
Al-Shareef described the meeting with the Iranians as "positive," and that they would coordinate with the Saudi Foreign Ministry to allow the Iranian pilgrims to print-out the entry visa in their country and the carrier would verify it. (end) nh.bs