Iran: mullahs officially cancel this year’s Hajj for Iranians

Iranian people’s religious beliefs taken hostage by ruling mullahs

 Iranian Guidance Minister Ali Jannati announced the official cancellation of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage for the Iranian people, adding Iran will not be sending any pilgrim to Saudi Arabia for this year’ Hajj ceremonies. This comes at a time when Iran had previously agreed and signed a draft agreement on the Hajj pilgrimage rituals in Saudi Arabia.

Jannati in flip-sided remarks claimed there was a deliberate intention seen from the Saudi side to officially prevent Iranian pilgrims from taking part in this year’s traditional gathering, and Iran needed to take a clear stance in this regard.

The Ministry of Hajj & Pilgrimage to Mecca of the Saudi government issued a statement saying despite the provision of full facilitation for Iran, including all Hajj rituals, and Tehran officially welcoming these measures, the Hajj delegation from Iran refused to sign the final statement of the Hajj rituals agreement and the Iran negotiating team returned to their country.

The Saudi Hajj Ministry statement reads Iran was provided many solutions to meet its requests, and considering the fact that Tehran has no open embassy in Riyadh, the Saudis had agreed to provide electronic visas for Iranian pilgrims…

“Saudi Arabia is fully ready to cooperate to serve the Hajj pilgrims and whatever facilitates their commuting. However, this country stands firm against any political misuse of the Hajj rituals and views completely unacceptable any such approach vis-à-vis religion,” the Saudi Hajj Ministry added.

Iran-Saudi Hajj negotiations fail

France24 posted a report titled “Iran ends hajj talks in Saudi without final deal” saying: “An Iranian delegation wrapped up a visit to Saudi Arabia on Friday without reaching a final agreement on arrangements for hajj pilgrims from the Islamic republic…”

The Saudi Hajj Ministry announced it will not allow the rituals to be used, Al Arabiya reported, saying, “The Saudis will not allow such measures and announced it opposition to the Iranian party.”

“No special instructions will be issued for hajj pilgrims from a specific country, and the agreements are one for all countries, with all parties being completely obligated to abide by these regulations,” the Saudi Hajj Ministry Director General stipulated.

However, why did Iran enter this situation as it has this year, as a guest nation officially disrupting and hindering the hajj ceremonies by not allowing Iranian Muslims to carry out these rituals?

Does Iran, being a Muslim country, not understand the fact that such actions and refusing to agree to recognized regulations imposed by the host country, being Saudi Arabia, will in the end lead to further divide and enmity the international community is already suffering from?

The answer, however, is quite clear. The answer lies in the warmongering, sectarian and monopolistic viewpoint of the mullah in Iran. From day one this regime has adopted a meddling approach vis-à-vis the affairs of other Islamic countries and to this day Tehran has plunged many Middle East countries into civil war and sedition.

In 1988 Iran launched an illegal march during the Hajj ceremonies in Mecca, turning the scene into a violent stampede that led to the death of 275 Iranian pilgrims. Under the pretext of “exculpation from polytheists,” Iran has always attempted to politicize the Hajj pilgrimage amongst all Muslims and pursue its own meddling and monopolistic interests. On the other hand, in flip-flop remarks seeking to sow the seeds of division, Iran described measures by the Saudi Interior Ministry to prevent any turmoil on its soils as “hindering in the Hajj ceremonies for Iranian pilgrims,” attempting to hold Saudi Arabia responsible for Iran’s refusal to take part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

Iran sought to stage demonstrations during Hajj

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubair in a joint press conference with his British counterpart Phillip Hammond on Sunday, May 29^th said, “Iran sought to hold demonstrations and to receive concessions… these measures will cause chaos during the Hajj ceremonies. This is unacceptable.”

Al-Jubair delivered this harsh statement in response to remarks made by Iranian officials accusing his country of hindering the process of Iranian pilgrims participating in the Hajj.

If we take a quick glance at the recent developments in the region and Iran further plummeting into crisis in relation to its neighbors, we will come to more easily understand that in fact this year, more than ever before, the rulers of Iran need to beat the drums of divide and conflict in regards to Saudi Arabia. Iran also needs to take advantage of Muslims’ religious beliefs and emotions to deliver a blow to Riyadh’s political and religious face.

By effectively cancelling the Hajj pilgrimage for the Iranian people, the mullahs have in fact taken hostage the Iranian people’s beliefs and Islamic traditions to pursue their own sectarian and rift-provoking intentions. Due to its own desperate conditions, Tehran is determined to expand the field of religious warfare into Saudi Arabia to avenge the humiliating defeats suffered in Yemen and Syria.