Iran not to send Mecca pilgrims, blames Saudi: state TV

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: AFP

Tehran (AFP) - Iranians will not take part in this year's Mecca pilgrimage because of "obstacles" raised by Saudi Arabia, custodian of Islam's holiest sites, Iran's Culture Minister Ali Jannati said Sunday.

In the latest dispute between the two regional rivals, "after two series of negotiations without any results because of obstacles raised by the Saudis, Iranian pilgrims will unfortunately not be able to take part in the hajj" pilgrimage, expected to take place this year in September, he said, quoted by state television.

Saudi officials have said an Iranian delegation wrapped up a visit to the kingdom on Friday without reaching a final agreement on arrangements for hajj pilgrims from the Islamic republic.

The Saudi hajj ministry said it had offered "many solutions" to meet a string of demands made by the Iranians in two days of talks.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/iran-not-send-mecca-pilgrims-blames-saudi-state-093453656.html?ref=gs

[IronLionZion]

1. Saudis probably need the revenue

more so now that oil prices are low.

[BunkieBandit]

2. No AK47s, pipe bombs and body bombs allowed.

Party pooper.

[Little Tich]

3. At least 464 Iranian pilgrims died last year in Mecca...

It seems as if Iran's concerns about the safety of their pilgrims are well founded:

Iran nearly doubles its death toll from Hajj stampede
Source: Al Jazeera, 1 OCTOBER 2015

Iran's Hajj organisation says 464 Iranian pilgrims died in last week's stampede near Mecca that left 769 people dead.

Iran has nearly doubled its death toll from last week's Hajj stampede to 464, saying there was no hope of finding pilgrims missing in the wake of the tragedy.

"Seven days after this tragic accident... the status of all (pilgrims) injured has been completely cleared and reported," Iran's Hajj organisation said in a statement carried by state television on Thursday.

Around 240 Iranians were previously declared dead after last Thursday's crush near Mecca, with more than 200 classified as missing.

Read more: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/iran-doubles-death-toll-hajj-stampede-151001073425842.html