Iran Envoy Says Hajj Pilgrims’ Return from Saudi Arabia via Iraq Continues
Alireza Enayati in a post on the platform X wrote, “With the efforts of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization and the coordination with our embassy in Baghdad, the entry of Iranian pilgrims through the Arar land border into Iraq is ongoing.”
He added, “Some of our pilgrims have also entered the Islamic homeland through border crossings, including the city of Mehran. Efforts to monitor the eastern entry points continue.”
Earlier, Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization said in a statement, “Following the cancellation of flights and the inability to use air transport, the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization evaluated all possible options for the safe return of pilgrims and ultimately adopted a combined air-land travel plan to facilitate their repatriation.”
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Under the arranged plan—coordinated with the Saudi government—pilgrims will be flown 1,000 km from Medina to Arar Airport near the Iraqi border via Saudi airlines. They will then be transported by prearranged buses to either Najaf or Karbala, the statement noted.
After a short rest and visiting the holy shrines in those cities, pilgrims will be transferred by buses to Iran’s borders and then onward to their hometowns, it said.
The Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization will provide all necessary facilities during the transit process in Iraq, including meals, healthcare services, and even mobile internet access for pilgrims, it added.
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"Given the current exceptional circumstances, any changes to the pilgrims’ transfer process will be promptly communicated,” the statement went on to say.
The Iranian Hajj pilgrims have remained in Saudi Arabia after the conclusion of Hajj due to cancelation of return flights after the Israeli regime launched its military aggression on Iran on Friday.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia announced that its Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a special operations room to facilitate Iranian Hajj pilgrims’ conditions.
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