MP Rejects Third Country’s Involvement in Issuing Hajj Visa for Iranians

Iranian lawmaker Kamal Dehqani Firouzabadi said the Riyadh government is required to resolve the problems it has caused for Iranian Hajj pilgrims and know that Iran never accepts a third country to grant its nationals Hajj visa.

According to a Farsi report by ICANA, he referred to the negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia on issues pertaining to Hajj pilgrimage, and said on unreasonable excuses, Riyadh has unilaterally severed its diplomatic ties with Tehran.

“Iran has never boycotted Hajj pilgrimage,” he noted.

“Since diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been cut due to Al Saud’s conspiracies and refusal to cooperate, the Saudi government is required to draw up new plans for the participation of Iranian pilgrims in Hajj rituals and devise a mechanism to give them visa respectfully.”

He stressed that it is not a sign of politeness if a host invites its guests but refrains from doing adequate preparation to welcome them.

In the absence of proper preparation, the invitation would be an act of hypocrisy aimed at winning greater [regional] acceptance, he noted.

“In case the Riyadh government is sincerely willing to consent to Iranian nationals’ presence in Hajj rituals, it will have to agree to their ceremonies and treat them with dignity.”

He added Saudi Arabia is required to provide Iranians with all the facilities in the most appropriate manner and preserve their dignity, otherwise, the upcoming talks would fail to produce favourable results.

“Saudi Arabia is required to adopt a suitable visa-issuance procedure towards Iranian pilgrims and know that Iran’s officials will never consent to a third country’s involvement in this process,” he went on to say.