Umrah flights cancelled from 21 March to 30 March

The Deputy Head of Hajj, Umrah and Atabat at the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation has announced the cancellation of Umrah flights to Saudi Arabia between 21 March and 30 March 2015.

Nasser Khodranjad stated that the visa issuance process at Saudi Arabian consulates in Tehran and Mashhad had slowed over the past three weeks. This disruption has resulted in the cancellation of 70 Umrah flights scheduled for the Iranian month of Farvardin (March/April 2015), affecting 25,000 pilgrims.

He noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had made serious efforts to resolve the issue, and the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation had engaged in correspondence with Saudi companies. Furthermore, the head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation held a meeting with the Saudi Minister of Hajj, during which Saudi officials had promised cooperation; however, Khodranjad stated that, unfortunately, there has been no change in the visa issuance process.

Khodranjad added that the organisation is making every effort to ensure that the travel of Umrah applicants is completed by the end of the year where possible.