The remarks by Zarif came after Wahhabi Mufti Abdulaziz Al Sheikh of Saudi Arabia said to the Makkah newspaper that Iranians are descendants of “Majuws”, a term referring to the followers of pre-Islamic religions of Iran. He also said Saudi rulers promote sectarian strife and arm “wicked takfiri groups” a reference to extremist Sunni militants who denounce other Muslims as heretics and non-believers. “Their enmity toward Muslims, especially the Sunnis, is very old”.
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Custodian of Islam’s most revered places in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia stakes its reputation on organising haj, one of the five pillars of Islam which every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to is obliged to undertake at least once. “This is because all Muslims trust what the government of this country is doing to serve the two Holy Mosques in building and expansion”. Al Arabiya’s Turki Aldakhil cites a report in Saudi media stating previous year that “the stampede that killed hundreds was caused by a group of around 300 Iranian pilgrims who did not follow instructions from hajj authorities”.
“The world of Islam, including Muslim governments and peoples, must familiarize themselves with the Saudi rulers and correctly understand their blasphemous, faithless, dependent and materialistic nature”, Khamenei writes, adding that the Saudis are “themselves small and puny satans who tremble for fear of jeopardizing the interests of the Great Satan, the U.S”.
Khamenei published an extensive article Tuesday accusing Saudi Arabia of the “murder” of pilgrims in last year’s hajj, where a stampede resulted in the deaths of thousands.
Tensions have been on the rise in recent months between the two regional rivals that are at odd over a number of issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen.
Riyadh severed diplomatic relations with Teheran in January after protesters attacked its embassy and a consulate in Iran after the execution of a prominent Shi’ite cleric in Saudi Arabia.
After reviewing security forces assigned to protect the haj, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef said later on Monday that the kingdom had “spared no effort to provide state-of-the-art services for the safety, comfort and security of all pilgrims”.
Saudi Arabia claims almost 770 people were killed in the incident, but Iranian officials say about 4,700 people, including more than 460 Iranians, lost their lives in the tragedy. Saudi security officials stressed at the event that they were well prepared to safeguard the security of pilgrims.
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Saudi authorities have published few details of the official investigation into the incident.
