Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been poor since the beginning of the war. Tehran has carried out multiple attacks against Gulf monarchies.
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/2026/04/25/69ecfef8b4605681013905.jpg "War in the Middle East: Iranian pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia for Mecca pilgrimage")
Pilgrims from Iran arrived by plane in Saudi Arabia to participate in the hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage, as reported by Al Arabiya TV channel on Saturday, April 25. This information is based on reports from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, at a time when relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the kingdom are very strained. Tehran has carried out multiple attacks against Gulf monarchies, accused of assisting the United States since the beginning of the war triggered by Israeli-American strikes on February 28. A fragile ceasefire came into effect on April 8.
The participation of Iranians in the hajj is a gauge of relations between Iran, majority Shiite, and Saudi Arabia, majority Sunni. For example, no Iranian pilgrim was allowed to travel to Mecca for seven years, from 2016 to 2023. Riyadh severed diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad, northwest of the country, were attacked during demonstrations following the execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. The two countries restored relations in 2023 following a surprise agreement brokered through China.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Fayçal bin Farhan spoke on the phone on April 9 with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, the first official contact between the two countries since the start of the war in the Middle East. Pilgrims from around the world have already begun to arrive in Saudi Arabia for the hajj, which is expected to start in the last week of May.
