RIYADH: Iranian Haj and Umrah pilgrims are welcome to enter the Kingdom and would receive all hospitality and courtesy afforded to Muslims from other countries, said Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir here Thursday.
He reiterated that the Kingdom’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Tehran because of the attacks on Saudi missions, had nothing to do with pilgrims seeking to perform their religious duties.
Al-Jubeir was speaking at a joint press conference with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was in Riyadh to attend the Janadriyah festival, which was opened by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Wednesday. Germany is this year’s guest of honor at the festival.
“The severing of diplomatic relations with Iran will not affect the flow of Iranian pilgrims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. They will be treated with due respect and provided with all facilities extended to other Muslim pilgrims coming to these sacred places,” Al-Jubeir said.
Al-Jubeir did not rule out a resumption of diplomatic ties, but said this would depend on Iran stopping its hostile conduct toward the Kingdom and other states in the region.
“The current row between the Kingdom and Iran has been caused by Iran’s hostile policies and practices toward the Kingdom and neighboring countries in the region. These policies and practices included meddling in countries’ internal affairs, supporting terrorism activities, and seeking to ignite sectarian and religious divisions. Once Iran gets rid of these policies and stop these practices then relations can return to normal.”
On a separate issue, Al-Jubeir blamed Syria’s Bashar Assad for the failure of peace talks in Geneva with the opponents of the regime, brokered by the United Nations. “Unfortunately, the regime delegation that came to Geneva for the talks was not serious,” he said.
He said the regime did not want to let humanitarian relief reach besieged cities and start a political process that would see the setting up of a transitional government.
Steinmeier blamed both the regime and Russia for the failure of the Geneva talks saying that he would discuss this with Russian officials.
He said that recent Russian air raids on the opposition forced their delegation to withdraw from the talks.
He reiterated that the Kingdom’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Tehran because of the attacks on Saudi missions, had nothing to do with pilgrims seeking to perform their religious duties.
Al-Jubeir was speaking at a joint press conference with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was in Riyadh to attend the Janadriyah festival, which was opened by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Wednesday. Germany is this year’s guest of honor at the festival.
“The severing of diplomatic relations with Iran will not affect the flow of Iranian pilgrims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. They will be treated with due respect and provided with all facilities extended to other Muslim pilgrims coming to these sacred places,” Al-Jubeir said.
Al-Jubeir did not rule out a resumption of diplomatic ties, but said this would depend on Iran stopping its hostile conduct toward the Kingdom and other states in the region.
“The current row between the Kingdom and Iran has been caused by Iran’s hostile policies and practices toward the Kingdom and neighboring countries in the region. These policies and practices included meddling in countries’ internal affairs, supporting terrorism activities, and seeking to ignite sectarian and religious divisions. Once Iran gets rid of these policies and stop these practices then relations can return to normal.”
On a separate issue, Al-Jubeir blamed Syria’s Bashar Assad for the failure of peace talks in Geneva with the opponents of the regime, brokered by the United Nations. “Unfortunately, the regime delegation that came to Geneva for the talks was not serious,” he said.
He said the regime did not want to let humanitarian relief reach besieged cities and start a political process that would see the setting up of a transitional government.
Steinmeier blamed both the regime and Russia for the failure of the Geneva talks saying that he would discuss this with Russian officials.
He said that recent Russian air raids on the opposition forced their delegation to withdraw from the talks.
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