Swiss embassy in Tehran may issue visa for pilgrims to visit Saudi Arabia
In the light of recent escalation of ties between Tehran and Riyadh, Swiss embassy in Tehran may issue visa for Iranian pilgrims to attend annual Hajj ritual in Saudi Arabia, an Iranian minister said.
Saying that Tehran has sent a delegation to Saudi Arabia to discuss Hajj for the current year, Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati has accused the Saudi government of "sabotaging" against the Islamic Republic over the past several months, Mehr news agency reported.
He further said that talks are underway to resolve visa issue for Iranian pilgrims and accused the Saudi officials of insulting Iranian pilgrims over the past years.
The crisis between Riyadh and Tehran erupted after execution of a prominent Shia cleric, Nimr al-Nimr by the Saudis on January 2.
Following the execution, angry mob stormed Saudi embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad. Right after the attacks on its diplomatic missions, the Saudi Arabia said it severed ties with the Islamic Republic.
Following the closure of the Saudi mission to Tehran, Riyadh announced that Switzerland will act for its interest section in Tehran.
In a separate development on September 24, 2015, a crowd collapse caused the deaths of more than 2,000 pilgrims who were suffocated or crushed during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, Mecca, making it the deadliest Hajj disaster in history.
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