Saudi Arabia has restarted flights for Iranian Hajj pilgrims to the kingdom for the first time in nearly ten years, according to international media reports.
A saudi airline has initiated flights for Iranian pilgrims for Hajj 2025, marking significant step in improving relations between the two nations.
“Flynas resumed flights carrying Iranian pilgrims from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport on Saturday,” a Saudi civil aviation official told AFP, requesting anonymity.
The official added that additional flights would be launched from the city of Mashhad, enabling over 35,000 pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia with the airline.
He emphasized that these are not regular commercial flights but are exclusively for the Hajj pilgrimage.
This year’s Hajj is expected to start in the first week of June, and pilgrims from around the world have already begun arriving in Saudi Arabia.
In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia reestablished diplomatic ties through a surprise agreement brokered by China, ending seven years of estrangement.
Saudi Arabia had cut diplomatic relations with Iran in 2016 after protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad following the execution of Saudi cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Due to the breakdown in relations that year, Iranian pilgrims were not allowed to participate in the Hajj, as the two countries failed to reach a protocol agreement.
In subsequent years, Iranians were permitted to take part in the pilgrimage but were restricted to using Iranian charter flights for travel to Saudi Arabia during Hajj.
Since the 2023 reconciliation, both countries have ramped up diplomatic engagement and cooperation.
