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An Iranian pilgrim arrested by Saudi authorities throughout the Hajj pilgrimage in July has been launched by Riyadh following mediation by Iraq and Oman, Anadolu Company reported.
The information was delivered to Iranian Overseas Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian by his Iraqi and Omani counterparts in separate calls on Saturday, in keeping with a press release issued by the Overseas Ministry on Sunday.
An Iranian nationwide, Khalil Dardmand, was arrested in mid-July for allegedly tweeting a picture of slain Iranian army commander Qassem Soleimani close to the Kaaba.
The picture was tweeted on June 30. His final tweet, on July 13, confirmed pilgrims circumambulating the Kaaba.
There was, nonetheless, no official remark from Saudi authorities concerning the Iranian nationwide’s arrest, regardless of repeated calls by Tehran for his launch.
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On August 5, virtually three weeks after the arrest, Iran’s prime diplomat Amir-Abdollahian requested his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, to mediate within the matter.
Iraq has been internet hosting tension-easing talks between the 2 estranged Gulf neighbors since April final 12 months, with 5 rounds of talks to this point yielding vital outcomes.
On August 18, Iran’s international minister additionally raised the matter together with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, urging him to press the Saudi authorities for the pilgrim’s launch.
Oman is amongst Iran’s all-weather allies within the area and has up to now mediated in disputes between Tehran and different nations, together with the US and UK.
The problem had up to now few months generated large outcry in Iran, with one of many prime lawmakers warning of “counter-measures” if the pilgrim was not freed.
Saudi Arabia severed its diplomatic relations with Iran after Saudi diplomatic missions within the Iranian cities of Tehran and Mashhad had been attacked by indignant mobs in January 2016 over the execution of a distinguished Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
READ: Saudi activist sentenced to 16 years for tweet
Later that 12 months, Iran refused to ship its pilgrims for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, accusing Saudi Arabia of “sabotage.”
The previous couple of rounds of talks, brokered by Baghdad, have eased tensions between the 2 nations, with Amir-Abdollahian in July hinting that the talks would advance from the safety to the political stage.
Hypothesis has been rife a couple of doable assembly on the stage of international ministers. Nonetheless, no aspect has confirmed it but.
Iran lately resumed diplomatic ties with the UAE and Kuwait, the 2 shut Saudi allies who had snapped ties with Tehran after the assault on Saudi diplomatic missions in 2016, in solidarity with Riyadh.
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