Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that Iran has not received any invitation from Riyadh for the next year’s Hajj rituals. “As it was already announced, the Islamic Republicof Iran has not received any invitation yet from the Saudi government for the next year’s Hajj.”
The Iranian diplomat also dismissed rumors that Tehran plans not to send pilgrims to next year’s Hajj. “Naturally after receiving the invitation and if conditions are ripe, the issue will be studied by relevant organizations and bodies and the decision will be made.”
This came after a media report said that Saudi Arabia had opened discussions with Iran to work out the details of the 2017 Hajj.
Hamid Mohammadi, the new head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization has also already dismissed the report, saying, “Contrary to the report published by some media outlets about the extension of an invitation by Saudi Arabia for Iran’s participation in this year’s Hajj rituals, we have received no invitation.”
Mohammadi emphasized that grounds will be prepared for the presence of Iranian pilgrims in Hajj if Iran’s conditions regarding the safety of pilgrims are met.
Iranian authorities decided not to dispatch its nationals to Hajj last year over concerns about the safety of pilgrims following a number of deadly incidents.
In September 2015, about 4,700 people, including over 465 of its nationals, lost their lives in a deadly crush occurred during Hajj rituals in Mina, near Mecca. Earlier in the same month, a massive construction crane had collapsed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque, killing more than 100 pilgrims, including 11 Iranians.
Several Muslim scholars maintain that the Riyadh regime has proved to be incapable of handling and managing Hajj affairs.
Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic in his speeches and messages frequently exposed conspiracies being hatched by ruling House of Saud against Muslim Ummah.