Iran said on Friday it is "using all its power" to secure the release of one of its nationals arrested in Saudi Arabia during the hajj pilgrimage last month.

Khalil Dardmand was arrested by police in the holy city of Mecca after completing his hajj rituals, Iran's foreign ministry said in a statement, without providing other details about the case.

Iran's top diplomat Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said he was hopeful that the pilgrim could return home soon with the help of Saudi Arabia.

"This ministry is using all its power to free this Iranian citizen as soon as possible," the statement quoted him as saying.

Nearly 780,000 pilgrims from abroad attended this year's hajj pilgrimage, according to Saudi officials.

Regional powerhouses Tehran and Riyadh have had no relations since 2016 when Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed opposition Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Since April last year, Iraq has hosted five rounds of talks between Shiite-majority Iran and its Sunni rival, which support opposing sides in various conflicts across the region, including in Yemen.

Amir-Abdollahian said last month that Iran and Saudi Arabia were ready to move talks to a higher level, in the political and public spheres, after earlier rounds mainly at the level of security officials.

His Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein said on July 23 that his country was preparing to host a "public" meeting of his Saudi and Iranian counterparts.

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Iran's nuclear saga: from 2015 deal to 'final' draft text
Paris (AFP) Aug 16, 2022
The main developments in talks on Iran's nuclear programme since 2015 after Tehran gives its response to a "final" draft agreement aimed at restoring a landmark deal with world powers. - Historic accord - In 2013, newly elected Iranian president Hassan Rouhani says he is ready for "serious" negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, following an eight-year stalemate under ultraconservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Rouhani secures support from supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for efforts to ... read more