Iranian pilgrim detained in July released by Saudi Arabia following Iraq, Oman mediation
Iranian pilgrim detained in July released by Saudi Arabia following Iraq, Oman mediation
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was informed of the development separately by Iraq and Oman on Saturday, his ministry said.
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The Iranian was on pilgrimage to Mecca when he was detained [IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY / HANDOUT/Anadolu Agency/Getty -file photo]
Saudi Arabia has freed an Iranian pilgrim it detained in July in a move that came after Iraqi and Omani mediation.
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was informed of the development by Iraq and Oman on Saturday, his ministry said the following day.
Saudi authorities arrested Khalil Dardmand in July, allegedly because the pilgrim posted a picture on Twitter showing Qasem Soleimani close to the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, Turkish news agency Anadolu reported.
Soleimani is the senior Iranian general the US assassinated in Iraq in 2020.
But Riyadh did not issue a statement about Dardmand's detention, even as Iran repeatedly urged he be freed.
Amir-Abdollahian in early August requested Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein mediate.
He asked Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi to push Riyadh on the issue just under two weeks later.
Iraq is a key mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia and Baghdad has been the site of five rounds of discussions between the regional rivals that started in 2021.
Oman, which has friendly relations with Tehran, has previously helped mediate issues involving Iran.
The move came as Iran released Iranian-American Baquer Namazi, a retired UN children’s agency official, as a "humanitarian gesture", also with Omani assistance.
Muscat thanked the Iranian government late on Tuesday for "delivering" Namazi to the Omani capital.
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