Further to the statement issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on 08/05/1437H (May 12th 2016) regarding refusal of the Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit's mission to sign minutes of concluding arrangements for Iranian pilgrims for this Hajj season 1437H (2016,) and based on the keenness of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as they responded to the desire of the Chairman of Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit and the accompanying delegation to come to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to sign the minutes for concluding arrangements for the arrival of the Iranian pilgrims' to perform pilgrimage for this Hajj season 1437H (2016.)

 

The delegation was received, hosted and provided with all facilitations, including enabling them to perform Umrah. After that, continuous meetings were held on 18-19/08/1437H (25-26/05/2016) for long hours. The two sides discussed all topics that were debated in previous meetings. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah suggested a number of solutions for all points requested by the Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit as follows:

  • Issuing visas electronically from inside Iran in accordance with mechanism agreed by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
  • Transporting pilgrims equally between the Saudi national carrier and Iranian national carrier.
  • Agreeing to the Iranian request by allowing them to be represented diplomatically through the Swiss Embassy in order to manage the Iranian pilgrims' interests, and was immediately coordinated with the competent authorities to implement it.

However, at early morning on Friday, 20/08/1437H (27th May 2016,) the Iranian delegation expressed their desire to leave and go back to their country without signing the minutes of the arrangements for the Iranian pilgrims' affairs. Accordingly, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is confirming that by refusing to sign the minutes of the arrangements for the Iranian pilgrims for the Year 1437H (2016), the mission of the Iranian Hajj and Visit Organization will be responsible in front of Allah Almighty and its people for the failure of the Iranian citizens to perform Hajj for this year. The Ministry also clarified that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has stressed its definite rejection for the politicizing of the Hajj and the exploitation of religion. And as upon the directives of the Kingdom's wise leadership, will always be ready to cooperate for serving the pilgrims and facilitating their arrival procedures.​