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Iran suspends pilgrim flights to Saudi Arabia amid tensions

Xinhua, April 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

Iran has suspended pilgrims flights to Saudi Arabia following alleged "abuse" of two Iranian teenage boys at Jeddah airport, official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

"Since today, the Iranian pilgrim flights to Saudi Arabia are suspended," IRNA quoted Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Ali Jannati as saying.

Iran awaits Saudi Arabia's urgent measures to arrest and punish the Saudi airport guards who attempted to "abuse" the Iranian teenagers, the minister said.

Through diplomatic channels, Saudi officials had informed Iran about their seriousness in dealing with the guards, but nothing has been done so far, Jannati said.

"The disgrace made us to make such a decision," Jannati said, referring to the alleged abuse of the teenagers.

The minister also spoke of Saudi airport authorities' "improper" attitudes toward Iranian clergymen and pilgrims in the past.

On Saturday, hundreds of Iranians gathered in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, chanting slogans and trying to pull down the Saudi flag. They were stopped by police.

The protesters called on authorities to close the Saudi embassy and to stop Iranian pilgrims from travelling to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, Iranian media outlets reported that two Iranian teenage pilgrims were abused Saudi guards at the Jeddah international airport.

Tensions have been running high between Iran and Saudi Arabia following air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition against Shiite Houthi group in Yemen, which had made significant advances to control major cities in the country.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday that the Saudi-led coalition has committed a big "mistake" in bombing Yemen.

The Iranian leader compared the Saudi-led raid on Yemen to the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in the past, saying that this action is "a crime and genocide which can be prosecuted internationally."

The Saudis and its allies in the Persian Gulf region have accused the Islamic republic of arming and financing the Houthis, an accusation denied by Tehran. Endit