Gulf states decry Iran’s anti-Saudi accusations

By Ahmad al-Masri

DOHA (AA) – The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Wednesday decried Iranian accusations against Saudi Arabia, accusing Tehran of seeking to “politicize” the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused Riyadh of stoking “sedition and wars” in Syria and Yemen, which have been locked into civil war in recent years.

He also accused Saudi authorities of “murdering” Iranian pilgrims during last year’s Hajj stampede.

In a statement, GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif al-Zayani described Khamenei’s accusations as “null and disgraceful”.

The GCC states consider the Iranian accusations “incitement and a desperate attempt to politicize the greatest Islamic ritual,” al-Zayani said.

"The Muslim world is well aware of the tremendous efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia to organize and facilitate the pilgrimage and host the pilgrims and ensure their safety," he added.

On Monday, Saudi Crown Prince and Interior Minister Muhammad bin Nayef accused Iran of preventing Iranian pilgrims from performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage and "politicizing" the ritual.

Last year, hundreds of pilgrims were killed in a deadly Hajj stampede near Mecca. Tehran later said most of the fatalities had been Iranian nationals, blaming the tragedy on Saudi mismanagement.

Relations remain tense between Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran, long considered regional arch-rivals.

In April, Riyadh and Tehran failed to agree on the parameters governing the Hajj pilgrimage, which all Muslims are obliged to perform at least once in their lives.

The dispute escalated after Tehran demanded that Iranian pilgrims be allowed to perform certain practices -- forbidden by the Saudi authorities -- during the Hajj.

The Saudi authorities, for their part, say such practices, which include gatherings of Shia worshipers during the Hajj ritual, "hinder the movement of other pilgrims".

The practices, however, were deemed political and religious obligations by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-1989), the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Saudi Arabia severed official ties with Iran early this year after its diplomatic missions in the Iranian cities of Tehran and Mashhad were attacked by protesters following the execution of a prominent Shia cleric by the Saudi authorities.