After accusing Saudi Arabian officials of obstruction, Iranian Culture Minister Ali Jannati gave the strongest indication that Iran would not be able to participate in this year’s hajj pilgrimage, which is mandatory for all Muslims who are able to perform it.

“During the last three months there were many efforts to resolve the problems of hajj this year with Saudi officials, but when we wanted to send the Iranian team to Saudi Arabia it took two months,” Jannati said May 12 of the problems in scheduling and accusations of Saudi delays. Jannati made the statement while in the holy city of Qom to meet with religious leaders.

Jannati also said that Saeed Ohadi, the head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, “faced many problems in obtaining a visa to visit Saudi Arabia” to discuss preliminary planning for Iranian pilgrims. Once Ohadi arrived, Jannati said that despite having a political passport, he was fingerprinted and his entourage's belongings were inspected.

Jannati said that Iranian officials have met with Saudi hajj officials four times and that the behavior of Saudis was “inappropriate and cold.” He said two of the main issues that have not been resolved are Saudi Arabia requiring Iranian pilgrims to travel to a third country to obtain a Saudi visa and Saudi’s insistence that Iranian planes not be used to transport Iranian pilgrims.