Saudi Arabia's Cabinet of Ministers Monday reaffirmed its committment to ensuring Muslims from around the world can perform the pilgrimage. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the kingdom ‘welcomes and is honored in serving pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors of all nationalities and it does not prevent any Muslim from coming to the holy lands'. The cabinet meeting - chaired by Saudi King Salman - reiterated its opposition to Iran's refusal to allow its people to attend the Hajj pilgrimage this year. The cabinet discussed how officials from the kingdom had met with representatives for the affairs of Hajj of the Islamic Republic of Iran to discuss arrangements and requirements of Iranian pilgrims' affairs like others from around the world. It was during this meeting that the Iranian delegation refused to sign the minutes of the agreement to complete arrangements for their pilgrims, the cabinet was told in a meeting chaired by Saudi King Salman,. The meeting heard that the decision to prevent Iranian citizens from performing Hajj rites was due to officials from their country ‘who will be responsible in front of Allah Almighty and the entire world'. The statement went on to stress Saudi Arabia's rejection of Iranian attempts to put obstacles to prevent the arrival of Iranian pilgrims aiming to politicize Hajj rites and exploit them for harming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
