Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia September 11, 2016.

Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed that it has sent its counterparts to all the Muslim countries, including Iran, to arrange the pilgrimage of their missions this year.

According to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, the Saudi Ministry pointed out that the invitations were sent through pilgrimage-related authorities and not through the countries’ foreign ministries.

Dr. Talal Kotb, director of the institution of pilgrims’ missions from Iran, explained that the Iranian regime ignored the call of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah who sent an invitation to the Iranian delegation of the pilgrimage affairs, to discuss the arrangements related to the arrival of the pilgrims, their lodging and transportations.

Kotb said: “The invitations were sent to all Muslim countries in order to set the date of the meeting; it is possible to change the date of the meeting according to the circumstances of the invited country. The ministry is dealing with this matter with high flexibility.”

He was surprised by the statements released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, which said that Iran had not received this invitation, while 79 countries confirmed its receipt and their delegations were received the beginning of this month.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin AbdulAziz, had agreed on raising the numbers of pilgrims during the Hajj season this year from Saudi Arabia and abroad, in compliance with the regulations of the arrangements.

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