Alireza Rashidian, head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, in his latest statements about next year's Hajj, announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran will serve its pilgrims with an 85,000 quota for this spiritual journey. He emphasized that the issue of Hajj is obligatory for all Muslims as one of the religious pillars, and the Saudi government has always tried to separate this journey from political issues.
Saudi guarantees for the safety of Iranian pilgrims
Rashidian referred to the importance of the Hajj journey and said: "The Saudi government and the rulers of this country have separated the issue of serving pilgrims from political matters, and we have witnessed the dispatch of pilgrims without problems even during times of severed relations in previous years." He also mentioned the existing memorandums of understanding with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in which the Saudi government guarantees the health and dignity of the pilgrims.
Read more: Amusing warning from Alireza Sharifi Moghadam to Yahya; Don't mess with the potatoes
Concerns and realities from last year's Hajj
The head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, referring to the heavy atmosphere created last year, stated: "Many people were worried that Iranian pilgrims would face inappropriate treatment due to the war conditions in the region, but in reality, all Iranian pilgrims were satisfied with their dignity and respect in Saudi Arabia." He also noted that pilgrims from other countries had positive and respectful interactions with Iranian pilgrims.
Rashidian stated that the general atmosphere regarding Hajj and Umrah is prevalent in Iranian society, adding: "We hope that, considering the analyses conducted, we can reach good agreements in future negotiations with Saudi Arabia." He mentioned that despite the planned arrangements, due to recent sanctions, flights to Saudi Arabia have been halted.
Umrah flights and upcoming challenges
The head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, in response to questions about Umrah flights, announced: "We had planned to dispatch pilgrims for Umrah starting from October 2026, but due to illegal sanctions, we have been unable to obtain flight permits." He added that negotiations are currently underway to resolve this issue, and he hopes to have good news for the people regarding the start of Umrah flights during the trip to Saudi Arabia.
Rashidian concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the Saudi government should cooperate in the area of Umrah flights similarly to the actions taken in Iraq. He expressed hope that with the follow-ups being conducted, these problems would be resolved, allowing pilgrims to travel easily.
Read more: Amitabh Bachchan met with his fans behind bulletproof glass · Seyed Abbas Araghchi: We will continue talks with Saudi Arabia
