Saudi airline resumes first Iran Haj flights since 2015: official

Saudi Airline Resumes Flights for Iranian Haj Pilgrims After a Decade

Key Points:

1. Flight Resumption After 10 Years

   • Saudi budget airline Flynas has resumed flights for Iranian Haj pilgrims from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport (starting Saturday) and Mashhad.

   • Over 35,000 pilgrims are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia via these flights, which are exclusively for Hajj (not commercial).

2. Warming Saudi-Iran Relations

   • The move marks another step in rapprochement between the two regional rivals after a China-brokered deal in March 2023 restored diplomatic ties.

   • Relations were severed in 2016 after attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran following the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

   • Since the 2023 deal, the two nations have exchanged ambassadors, ministers, and high-level visits, including:

     • Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit (November 2023) – the first in 20 years.

     • Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s rare trip to Iran (April 2024), where he met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

3. Hajj Pilgrimage & Past Tensions

   • No Iranian pilgrims were allowed in 2016 due to the diplomatic rift.

   • In 2015, a stampede during Hajj killed 2,300, including hundreds of Iranians.

   • Post-2016, Iranian pilgrims could only travel on chartered Iranian flights.

4. Broader Regional & Geopolitical Context

   • The US and Iran are holding nuclear talks, with President Trump hinting at a possible deal but warning of consequences if negotiations stall.

   • Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi visited Saudi Arabia just before Trump’s Gulf tour, signaling ongoing diplomatic efforts.

The resumption of Saudi flights for Iranian pilgrims underscores the continuing thaw in Saudi-Iran relations, driven by economic, religious, and geopolitical factors. While historic tensions remain, both nations are cautiously fostering cooperation—particularly in facilitating Hajj, a vital religious obligation. This development also reflects China’s growing diplomatic influence in the region, as well as shifting dynamics amid US-Iran negotiations and broader Middle East conflicts (e.g., the Gaza war). If sustained, this détente could lead to deeper regional stability, though challenges persist.