Jeddah: Iran continues its attempts to mislead the world with its continued claims of Saudi Arabia preventing Iranian pilgrims from performing Haj this year.
A well-informed source said the Iranian delegation refrained from signing the Haj agreement three months ago.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s actions clearly show that the country is welcoming and receiving pilgrims from all over of the world.
Regarding the latest statement made by Tehran prayer leader Mohammad Ali Kermani, claiming that Saudi Arabia had obstructed Iranian pilgrims from performing Haj, an official source said: “The ministry has already issued two statements in this regard responding to Iran’s lies.”
The Iranian escalations contradict the minutes of the meeting held in Jeddah three months ago during which the Kingdom was keen on enabling Iranian pilgrims to perform their Haj rituals, but the Iranian delegation missed the next working session, and then left without providing reasons or signing the minutes of the meetings.
The Ministry of Haj said in an earlier statement: “Each year, in compliance with the directions of the government of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah sends invitations to all officials responsible for pilgrim affairs in the Arab and Islamic countries, and other countries with Muslim minorities around the world, to come to the Kingdom and discus and arrange the measures and procedures for their pilgrims. The number of these countries stands at 78 including Iran.” 
The statement of the ministry explained that on the 20th of Shaban the Iranian delegation expressed its wish to leave the Kingdom for Iran, without signing any of the minutes of the meetings to arrange measures and procedures to receive the pilgrims from their country. 
“According to these developments, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah emphasizes and confirms that the Iranian Haj mission, and the visit of the delegation, by not signing the minutes of the meetings to prepare for receiving Iranian pilgrims to perform Haj in Saudi Arabia, Iran will bear the responsibility for preventing its nationals from performing the holy rituals,” said the statement from the ministry, stressing the importance of not politicizing Haj, or using religion as a means to make political gains.