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Saudi Arabia’s Flynas Resumes First Hajj Flights with Iran

Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Iran Abdullah Alanazi and Iranian officials receive the first Flynas flight in Tehran. (The ambassador’s page on X)
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Iran Abdullah Alanazi and Iranian officials receive the first Flynas flight in Tehran. (The ambassador’s page on X)
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Saudi Arabia’s Flynas Resumes First Hajj Flights with Iran

Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Iran Abdullah Alanazi and Iranian officials receive the first Flynas flight in Tehran. (The ambassador’s page on X)
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Iran Abdullah Alanazi and Iranian officials receive the first Flynas flight in Tehran. (The ambassador’s page on X)

Saudi Arabia’s Flynas airlines resumed flights for Iranian pilgrims heading to Mekkah for the first time in a decade.

On Sunday, at the Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Iran, Abdullah Alanazi, received the first flight coming from Saudi Arabia to transport Iranian pilgrims to perform the hajj rituals.

“I am pleased to receive the first Flynas flight at the international al-Salam hall in Tehran”, said Alanazi on his X account.

The resumption of flights is the latest sign of warming ties between the two countries, after severed diplomatic ties back in 2016.

"Flynas resumed Iranian pilgrims flights from Imam Khomeini (airport) in Tehran on Saturday," a Saudi civil aviation authority official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said flights would also be added from Mashhad in Iran, allowing more than 35,000 pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia on the airline.

The official stressed that the flights were not commercial and were only for the hajj pilgrimage.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, a source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Flynas “is the sole Saudi operator dedicated to transport pilgrims from Iran”, adding that daily flights would transport pilgrims from Tehran and Mashhad in Iran.

Iranian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, said in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi carrier is going to transport part of the pilgrims from Tehran and Mashhad.

He said the move “will bolster and strengthen relations between the two countries” and will give their people an opportunity to get acquainted with each other’s nations.

The hajj is due to begin during the first week of June, and pilgrims from across the globe have already begun pouring into Saudi Arabia.

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Gulf

World Leaders Express Solidarity with Qatar Following Iranian Attack

Remnants of an Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar (AFP)
Remnants of an Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar (AFP)
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World Leaders Express Solidarity with Qatar Following Iranian Attack

Remnants of an Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar (AFP)
Remnants of an Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar (AFP)

In the wake of Iran’s missile strike on Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Arab and world leaders have expressed firm solidarity with the Qatari leadership, condemning the attack as a flagrant violation of the country’s sovereignty and international law.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to convey the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of the Iranian assault, reiterating Saudi Arabia’s full support for Qatar. He described the strike as a “blatant breach of Qatari airspace and sovereignty” and a serious threat to regional stability.

The Crown Prince stressed the need for restraint and a return to diplomatic channels.

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq also spoke with Sheikh Tamim, voicing full support for Qatar and praising its calm and measured response to the regional escalation. He reaffirmed Oman’s rejection of any act that undermines the sovereignty or stability of Gulf nations and called for dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution.

US President Donald Trump joined the growing list of leaders condemning the attack. In a phone call with the Qatari Emir, Trump reaffirmed America’s commitment to Qatar’s security and condemned Iran’s actions as a “grave violation of international law and the UN Charter.”

Qatar also received expressions of support from Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, who labeled the attack a “dangerous violation” and affirmed Baghdad’s solidarity with Doha. Al-Sudani stressed Iraq’s rejection of any aggression threatening the security of regional nations and urged all parties to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi echoed similar sentiments in a phone call with Sheikh Tamim, voicing Cairo’s strong condemnation of the Iranian strike and declaring unwavering support for Qatar. He underscored the importance of maintaining regional stability and avoiding escalation.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who visited Doha on Tuesday, met with the Qatari Emir and reaffirmed Lebanon’s support for Qatar’s sovereignty. Salam condemned the attack as a serious threat to regional peace and extended his appreciation for Qatar’s consistent support to Lebanon during challenging times.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan also joined in condemning the Iranian strike in separate phone calls with Sheikh Tamim. Both leaders expressed their nations’ solidarity with Qatar and stressed the need for diplomatic resolution and de-escalation.

In response, the Emir expressed deep gratitude for the broad regional and international solidarity, describing it as a testament to the strength of Qatar’s partnerships and the shared commitment to peace and stability in the Gulf.