Iranian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati stressed on Sunday that the Hajj helps forge relations of friendship between Muslims, adding that Tehran places great importance on its ties with Riyadh.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said Iran will continue to strengthen relations with the Kingdom at the directives of the two countries’ leaderships.
On Iranian Hajj pilgrims, he said they are organized and have completed their holy rituals smoothly and at ease.
He underscored the complete coordination between the Iranian Hajj mission and Saudi authorities, whom he thanked for their major accomplishment of organizing the annual pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia and Iran restored their relations in March 2023 through a China-mediated agreement. They resumed Umrah trips in April 2023.
Over 1.8 million pilgrims performed this year’s Hajj, said Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Among them were 90,000 Iranian pilgrims.
Iran believes the Hajj is one way to get closer to God and for Muslims to achieve rapprochement with each other because the pilgrimage brings together the faithful from all around the world, remarked Enayati.
Moreover, he noted that the Hajj was just one way for Saudi Arabia and Iran to strengthen their ties.
The ambassador also congratulated the Iranian pilgrims and Saudi Arabia’s government and people on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.
