By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Iranian pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, despite recent tensions between Tehran and Riyadh.

Riyadh-based broadcaster Al Arabiya reported that the first group of Iranian pilgrims arrived by air for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.

The development comes after a period of conflict, during which Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, following US and Israeli strikes that began on February 28.

The situation eased earlier this month when Iran and the United States agreed to a fragile ceasefire.

The participation of Iranian pilgrims in Hajj has often reflected the state of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iranian pilgrims were not allowed to perform Hajj for seven years, from 2016 to 2023, after diplomatic ties were cut.

Relations broke down in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad were attacked during protests following the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Ties were restored in March 2023 under a China-brokered agreement. More recently, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, marking their first official contact since the start of the war.

Hajj is expected to begin in the last week of May, with pilgrims from around the world continuing to arrive in Saudi Arabia.

Source: The New Arab