First group of Iranian pilgrims leave Tehran for Saudi Arabia

Tehran, 6 December 06

The first group of Iranian pilgrims left Tehran airport last night for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A special ceremony held on this occasion at the airport was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Iran Osama bin Ahmed Al-Sanousi; Head of Chancery Abdul-Karim Hilal; Head of the Iranian Hajj Mission Mohamed Raey Sharey; Iranian Minister of Culture Hussein Safar Herndi and Head of the Iranian Pilgrimage Organization Khaksar Kherodi.

Iranian pilgrims will use more than 600 flights to travel to the Kingdom through 17 airports in Iran to perform this year's Hajj rituals.

An official announcement said 99,700 Iranian pilgrims will perform Hajj this year.

It added that nearly one million people have registered to perform Hajj in the coming years.