Posted on 05/28/2016 1:24:40 AM PDT by nickcarraway
An Iranian delegation wrapped up its visit to Saudi Arabia on Friday without signing a final agreement on arrangements for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said.
The ministry said the delegation decided to return to Tehran without signing the final agreement despite two days of extensive talks.
“The Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit will be held responsible before God and the people of Iran for the inability of its pilgrims to perform Hajj this year,” the ministry said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
The ministry said it offered many solutions to meet a string of demands made by the Iranian delegation, which arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Agreements had been reached in some areas, including electronic visa issuance as Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran remain closed. Riyadh cut ties with Tehran in January after protesters torched the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Mashhad.
The ministry said Riyadh agreed to allow Iranians to obtain visas through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which is looking after Saudi interests since the countries severed ties.
Saudi Arabia also agreed to allow Iranian carriers to fly half of the pilgrims into Saudi Arabia and back despite a ban on Iranian airlines following the diplomatic row, the ministry said.
SAUDI REJECTS IRANIAN ATTEMPTS TO POLITICIZING HAJJ
The talks were the second attempt by both countries after an unsuccessful first round last month to iron out differences and reach a deal on organizing this year’s Hajj journey for Iranian pilgrims.
According to the statement, the ministry formally received the delegation and provided all facilities for the members, including arrangements to perform Umrah.
Marathon talks continued on Wednesday and Thursday, with both sides raising all topics that had figured in the previous round. The ministry suggested a number of solutions for all issued raised by the Iranian side.
It proposed issuing electronic visas within Iran in accordance with a mechanism agreed by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
It suggested Saudi and Iranian national carriers equally share the responsibility of transporting the Iranian pilgrims. It also approved an Iranian request to allow the Swiss Embassy to take care of the interests of Iranian pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
“The ministry immediately coordinated with the competent authorities to implement the agreements. But early Friday morning, the Iranian mission expressed its desire to return home without signing the final Hajj agreement,” the ministry said.
The ministry clarified that the Kingdom has reiterated its categorical rejection of attempts to politicize Hajj rituals.
Tehran had banned its pilgrims from coming to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah this year.
All is not well on the moslum front. Wars have been fought on less !
This is worth billions and billions. You’re supposed to dump your wealth on their doorstep when you arrive.
Prelude to war?
Perhaps one begins to recognize the reasoning (dual-loyalties) behind the current-occupant-of-the-oval-office's ineffectiveness in his WoT while simultaneously encouraging the chaos in the ME.
Meanwhile, Turkey puts the $queeze on EU in the deal of the century ....by making the EU cough up ever escalating amounts of jizya under the guise of managing the flood of migrants (hijrah). 3/8/2016 Reuters: Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told EU leaders that Ankara was willing to take back all migrants who enter Europe from Turkey in future, including Syrian refugees, as well as those intercepted in its territorial waters.
However, that means EU agrees to double funding through 2018 to help Syrian refugees stay in Turkey and a commitment to take in one Syrian refugee directly from Turkey for each one returned from Greece's Aegean islands.
AND EU leaders agreed to the earlier target date (June) for visa-free travel.
just as long as they trample 10,000 people to death this year like every year. I look forward to that. Maybe a floor will collapse this year or something.
Let’s hope they nuke each other over this
Fzob wrote: Let’s hope they nuke each other over thisUnfortunately, these players share a doctrinal alliance to make use of any viable nukes to come into their possession against their mutual enemies first.
I’d hate to be a bird and unknowingly fly over that arena.
Can you imagine the smell and the toxic gases?
Maybe they ought to setup one of the bird deterrent things like that have at airport runways.
What one J-DAM could do.....
The ministry clarified that the Kingdom has reiterated its categorical rejection of attempts to politicize Hajj rituals. Tehran had banned its pilgrims from coming to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah this year.
I went through two hajj seasons while stationed in Jeddah. Fustercluck is the only way to describe it. They may have cleaned up their act since 1982 when the new airport opened. Picture multiple thousands of pilgrims from across Africa, laden with TVs, microwave ovens, VCRs, etc, then trying to wrestle these items onto 727s on Air Mali or Togo Air. It’s a miracle more people aren’t killed. If a pilgrim is killed or dies while making his pilgrimage, it’s straight to paradise, FRiends, do not pass go, etc.
I don’t doubt it. Of course, I’m generally amused when I read about the various award-winners who die during the Hajj.
What are these pilgrims doing taking the portable appliances on the Hajj?
These items are not usually available in their home countries unless you are a member of the privileged class.
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