Riyadh, 14 December, 2023 (GNP): After a hiatus of over eight years, Iranian pilgrims are set to visit Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia starting December 19, as reported by Iranian state media on Wednesday (Dec 13)
This development signifies a notable thaw in diplomatic relations between the Shia and Sunni powerhouses in Middle East.
As per the source, flights will initiate from 10 airports across Iran, facilitating Iranians embarking on the year-round Umrah pilgrimage to the Islamic holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. The inaugural dispatch of Iranian Umrah pilgrims is scheduled for December 19th.
As per the source, an estimated 70,000 Iranian pilgrims are anticipated to journey to Saudi Arabia by the conclusion of February 2024.
Since 2016, Iranian pilgrims have been limited to performing the hajj pilgrimage, a religious obligation obligatory for Muslims to fulfill at least once in their lifetime, subject to stringent annual quotas and specific timings.
Also Read: Interim Afghan government responds to D.I. Khan attack, denies blame amidst probe
Iranians now have the opportunity to undertake the Umrah pilgrimage, considered a “lesser pilgrimage” that can be performed at any time of the year and is not obligatory in Islam, in contrast to Hajj.
The ongoing negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are not solely focused on religious matters; they also aim to revive non-religious tourism between the two nations, including the establishment of flights connecting Riyadh and Tehran.
Against the backdrop of China’s central role in the geopolitical landscape in March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to restore diplomatic ties, marking the end of their seven years of bilateral estrangement.
The diplomatic deal involving the reopening of embassies and missions between Iran and Saudi Arabia marked a notable shift in favor of Beijing in a region where the United States has historically engaged in conflicts and invested significant resources to ensure security for its allies.
