After 9 years, Iranians got the opportunity to perform Umrah

After 9 long years, Iranians are getting the opportunity to perform the holy Umrah. After the lifting of Saudi Arabia’s ban, 85 Iranian religious have left for Riyadh for the first time.

The plane carrying Umrah pilgrims took off from Tehran’s Imam Khamenei Airport on Monday (April 22). This is the first Umrah passenger flight since 2016.

Abdallah bin Saud Al-Anji, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Iran, was present at the farewell ceremony for Umrah pilgrims at Tehran airport. He prayed to God for their success.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have not had diplomatic relations since 2016, according to a Reuters report on Iran’s state news agency IRNA. That year, Saudi Arabia executed a Shia leader. Later, the Saudi embassy in Tehran was attacked. The tension between the two countries increased around this.

Later last year, diplomatic relations between the two countries were re-established. In view of this, Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on Iranians performing Umrah in December last year.

But still no flight from Iran went to Saudi Arabia with Umrah pilgrims. Iran has been citing technical problems for it.

Before ties were restored last year, Iranians could only travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj, according to Reuters.

Hajj is an obligatory act of worship for wealthy Muslims. It has to be observed at a certain time of the year. But Umrah is not an obligatory worship. Umrah can be performed at any time of the year.

Meanwhile, there is renewed tension in the Arab countries due to the Iran-Israel conflict. Jordan shot down an Iranian drone when Iran attacked Israel. It is heard that Saudi Arabia was the leader in this work.

On the other hand, Saudi has been accused of smuggling the news of Iran’s attack to the United States. Israel, with the help of its allies, shot down the drones and missiles launched by Iran before they reached the country’s soil.

This situation is considered important for Iranians to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia. Those concerned say that the matter will be important for the development of relations between the two countries.