Iran seeks mediation from region on pilgrim detained in Saudi Arabia

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) - Calls are growing in Iran for the release of a pilgrim from the country arrested in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj pilgrimage in July, with the nation's Foreign Ministry seeking mediation from other countries in the region.

The Iranian national, identified in some local media outlets as Khalil Dardmand, was allegedly arrested after tweeting an image of slain military commander Qassem Soleimani near the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site in the city of Mecca.

The image, tweeted on July 15, was the user's last before the arrest.

In a phone call on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian asked his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi to intervene, according to Tehran.

Amir-Abdollahian later said on Instagram that he emphasized the need for the Iranian national's release "as soon as possible" and added that his Omani counterpart "promised to follow up" on the matter.

Oman shares cordial relations with Iran and has in the past mediated in disputes between Tehran and other countries, including the US and UK.

In separate remarks on Thursday, senior Iranian lawmaker Mojtaba Zonnour warned of "countermeasures" if Riyadh did not release the arrested pilgrim.

Zonnour, who is a member of the Iranian parliament's foreign policy and national security commission, said the issue was being "seriously pursued" at the diplomatic level.

The issue came to light earlier this month after Iran's foreign minister asked his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein to mediate in the matter, almost three weeks after the arrest.

Amir-Abdollahian asked Hussein to convey the message to the Saudi side and press for his release.

Reports suggest that Saudi authorities have refused to publicly comment on the matter, including on the reason for the person's detention.

Iraq has been mediating in the dispute between Tehran and Riyadh since April last year, with at least five rounds of tension-easing talks held in Baghdad so far.

The two Persian Gulf neighbors severed diplomatic ties in January 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions were attacked by protesters in Tehran and Mashhad over the execution of a prominent Saudi Shia cleric, Nimr al-Nimr.

Later that year, Iran said its pilgrims would not attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage, accusing Saudi Arabia of "sabotage." Riyadh in turn said Iran had refused to sign a memorandum reached after talks with Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization.

Last month, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian said Riyadh had expressed its readiness to advance talks from the security to the political level, while noting progress in the marathon negotiations.

He told state TV that the two sides have reached some agreements in the ongoing talks, including on the mutual reopening of embassies.

His remarks came after Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said Riyadh has "extended a hand of friendship to Iran."