Iranian citizens will not be participating in this year's hajj, following the stampede last September, when more than 400 Iranians were killed during the pilgrimage.
Muslims from all over the world visit Saudi Arabia during the annual pilgrimage, which is set to take place in September this year. However, Iran won't be sending its pilgrims this year.
Last year's stampede gave rise to heavy tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as Iran said that more than 464 of its citizens died when performing the annual pilgrimage. Iran has since then been waiting for a thorough investigation, which Saudi Arabia has not yet delivered.
Saudi Arabia's official toll reports that 769 people were killed, whereas the Associated Press count reported 2,177. The discrepancy in the death toll count has also added to the tensions between the two countries.
Negotiations have been taking place, however there seems to be no viable resolution. Iran's minister of culture and Islamic guidance, Ali Jannati blamed the Saudis for their decision.
“Their attitude was cold and inappropriate,” Mr. Jannati said according to the NYTimes . “They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas, the transport and security of the pilgrims.”
“Conditions are not prepared for conducting hajj, we have lost the time, we made our utmost effort but the sabotage is coming from the Saudis.”
And Saudi Arabia's minister of hajj and umrah, Mohammad Bintin, blamed Iran for the dispute.
“Iran is the only country that refused to sign the agreement on the hajj,” Bintin said, according to the NYTimes .
With each country taking a stand and blaming the other, it doesn't seem a solution will be proposed anytime soon. This isn't the first time Iran has boycotted the hajj. In 1987, clashes between Iranian pilgrims and the Saudi police led to 402 people killed. Following the incident, Iran did not send pilgrims to the hajj in 1988 and 1989.