Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has invited Iran to discuss a return of its nationals to next year's Haj after Iranians were excluded from the pilgrimage following a major diplomatic row, reports said yesterday.
The Al Hayat daily reported that Riyadh's pilgrims minister Mohammed Bentin had opened discussions with more than 80 countries, including Iran, to work out the details of the 2017 Haj.
"Iran's Haj delegation was invited to come to the kingdom" for preparations, the paper said.
The Arab News daily said Riyadh would welcome pilgrims for Haj and the smaller Umrah rite "irrespective of their nationalities or sectarian affiliations, including Iranian pilgrims". Riyadh cut ties with Tehran in January after Iranian demonstrators torched its embassy and a consulate following its execution of a prominent Shia cleric.
