Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have now confirmed that the overall death toll from the stampede has risen to 2,110.
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“The Saudi forces are blameworthy for the utter mismanagement for deadly hajj crush and the untimely presence of Mohammad bin Salman, the Saudi Defense Minister and King’s son’s large entourage which was accompanying him with 300 security personnel and 200 vehicles resulted in fatal blocking two of three the corridors in Mina”, said Mr. Hanizadeh.
The toll keeps rising from the September 24 disaster outside Mecca as individual countries identify bodies and work to determine the whereabouts of hundreds of pilgrims still missing.
The number of people who died during a crush at last month’s haj pilgrimage is more than double the official figure reported by host country Saudi Arabia, according to a dpa tally.
But officials have not updated their casualty toll since September 26, although an investigation into the causes of the tragedy is ongoing.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that the tragic incident showed lack of foresight on the part of Saudi rulers which led to the killing of thousands of men and women from across the Muslim world, including from Iran.
Indeed, this year’s stampede could have been avoided if the pilgrims themselves had conducted their affairs with the fear of God and consideration for fellow Muslims.
Mohammed is interior minister and chairs the Saudi hajj committee.
Iran says it lost 465 of its citizens, making it the worst affected nation.
Many countries that sent pilgrims to this year’s Hajj estimated the number of deaths in the stampede alone at more than 1,000. Numerous dead also came from Africa. “Others include India with 114, Pakistan with 100, Bangladesh with 92, Mali with 70, Senegal with 54, Benin with 51, Cameroon with 42, Morocco with 33, Ethiopia with 31, Sudan with 30, Algeria with 25, Ghana with 12, Chad with 11, Kenya with eight and Turkey with seven”.
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