After nearly a decade of prohibition, Iranian Muslims embarked on their annual Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the recently re-established relations between Tehran and Riyadh.
The journey commenced as the first group of Umrah pilgrims departed from Iran through the Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran, as reported by the official news agency IRNA. This development follows the landmark decision by Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic ties and reopen embassies, mediated by China last year.
For nearly ten years, Iranian pilgrims were barred from participating in the Umrah pilgrimage due to strained relations between the two nations. However, last year, Iranians were allowed to return for the Hajj pilgrimage, signaling a thaw in tensions.
The rift between Tehran and Riyadh had deepened following attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran during protests against the execution of the Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities.
Despite previous announcements by Iranian state media indicating the resumption of Umrah pilgrimages, delays attributed to technical issues had persisted. Nonetheless, a total of 5,720 Iranian Umrah pilgrims were anticipated to travel to Saudi Arabia this year, according to IRNA.
At the Imam Khomeini airport, Abdullah bin Saud al-Anazi, the Saudi ambassador to Tehran, joined Iranian officials in bidding farewell to the first group of pilgrims, underscoring the diplomatic significance of the occasion.
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