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THE IRANIAN death toll from last week’s hajj disaster in Saudi Arabia has nearly doubled to 464, media reported yesterday, raising tensions between the two regional powers.
Iranians pilgrims to Mecca who have gone missing and not been accounted for were included in the toll, which may explain the sudden increase.
Iran’s hajj office head Saeed Ohadi said officials were trying to return bodies of Iranian pilgrims “as soon as possible.”
He said Iran and Saudi Arabia had agreed not to bury any of the dead in Saudi Arabia without prior permission by Iran or the families of the deceased.
At the UN on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the Saudis of “irresponsibility” in the disaster.
Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry had reported 769 dead and 934 injured. Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Iran have all said the toll may be higher.
