The letter, delivered two weeks ago by Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, officially conveyed Tehran’s appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s management of Iranian pilgrims during last year’s Hajj, the Iranian Foreign Ministry explained.
Shariatmadari questioned the timing and motives behind the correspondence, suggesting in an editorial that the proposal to send the letter may have come from political actors seeking to create “a two-sided game.”
He implied that the move was suspicious because it coincided with bin Salman’s trip to the US to meet President Donald Trump. He also criticized the fact that the letter was sent months after the previous Hajj and months before the next, arguing that its timing lacked practical justification.
The editor accused unnamed political figures, some allegedly close to the president, of both encouraging the letter and later spreading false claims that President Pezeshkian had asked Riyadh to mediate between Tehran and Washington.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baqaei reiterated that the letter contained “nothing beyond standard coordination on Hajj” and included no discussion of negotiations or mediation.
He expressed regret that some political actors continue to promote “baseless speculation,” urging all sides to prioritize national interests over partisan agendas.
