Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 30
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
The Islamic Republic as well as the Islamic countries should investigate reasons for the Mecca incident, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran 's supreme leader said, his official website reported Sept. 30.
He made the remarks in an army cadet graduation ceremony, which was held in northern city of Nowshahr.
A stampede occurred in the Mina valley, outside the Saudi city of Mecca, where Muslims were performing the Hajj rites Sept. 25.
The majority of the dead as a result of the stampede are the citizens of African countries. Moreover, the number of Iranian pilgrims killed in the crush has reached 239.
Muslim countries including Iran should dispatch experts to Saudi Arabia to investigate the fatal tragedy, Khamenei said.
The Iranian leader further criticized Saudi Arabian government, saying it neglected its duties towards the injured people and in the issue of transferring bodies of the dead pilgrims to their country.
Saudi officials fail to do their duties and act contrary to their responsibilities and show slyness in some cases, Khamenei said, adding if Iran wants to react, Saudi Arabia's conditions will not be good.
"In case of reaction, our response will be firm and severe."
Khamenei added that people's lives were taken in the Hajj while the ritual should be a place for peace and security.
Meanwhile Iran 's Foreign Ministry summoned Saudi chargé d'affaires for the fourth time on Sept. 30 over the Hajj tragedy.
Ali Chegini, director general of consular affairs of Iranian Foreign Ministry, warned the Saudi official about any irresponsibility and indifference over identifying Iranians who were killed during the Hajj disaster and sending their bodies to the country.
Chegini recalled Saudi Arabia's legal and traditional responsibilities against people who were there for Hajj rituals, saying that the Saudi government should at least beg the Islamic countries' pardon.
Edited by CN