Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended the issuance of Umrah and family visit visas for Iranian citizens, alongside nationals from 13 other countries, citing the need to manage crowds and ensure the security of pilgrims ahead of the 2025 Hajj season. According to Khabar Online and ISNA, the Saudi government announced that the suspension, effective since April 13, is a precautionary measure and will remain in place until the conclusion of Hajj.
The temporary ban affects applicants without formal Hajj permits, but does not apply to pilgrims holding official Hajj visas or other types of authorized entry permits. Countries impacted by the suspension include Iran, Nigeria, Yemen, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Chad, Niger, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Libya, Sudan, and Pakistan.
Saudi authorities also issued strict warnings against visa violations, threatening heavy fines, imprisonment, or deportation for non-compliance. These measures, officials stated, are part of a broader policy to ensure the safety of one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
Fearing Strategic Defeat, #Iran’s Regime Threatens with More Terror against #Hajj Pilgrimagehttps://t.co/1OeIKr5Dl7
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 8, 2024
The move comes amid mounting strains between Riyadh and Tehran despite recent efforts to normalize relations. Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister had recently visited Tehran, holding high-level talks with Iranian officials. However, tensions have resurfaced sharply following provocative incidents in Iran, including recent insults aired against Sunni Muslims on Iranian state television — an action widely condemned by Sunni communities across the region.
Further fueling Saudi apprehensions are longstanding concerns regarding the Iranian regime’s politicization of the Hajj pilgrimage. In May 2024, the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared the upcoming Hajj a “Hajj of repudiation,” echoing rhetoric from the early days of the Islamic Republic. His speech drew parallels to the tragic 1987 Hajj incident when Iranian operatives attempted to incite unrest during the pilgrimage, resulting in the deaths of over 400 people.
Moreover, last year, Saudi authorities expelled six members of an Iranian media team affiliated with Khamenei’s office, accusing them of breaching protocol while filming near religious sites without authorization. The expulsion was widely seen as a precaution against potential covert activities masked as journalism.
#Iran News:
Saudi Arabia Expels Iranian Media Team Following #Khamenei’s Threatshttps://t.co/SuYnBpeQ7i— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 29, 2024
In another escalation, Saudi Arabia revoked the flight license of Iran’s Mahan Air in mid-2024, citing security violations. Mahan Air has long been accused of transporting weapons and personnel linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Saudi Arabia has emphasized that the current visa restrictions are temporary and will be lifted after the Hajj season concludes. However, given the Iranian regime’s long record as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and its history of politicizing the pilgrimage, regional observers view the measures as part of Riyadh’s broader efforts to maintain strict control and safeguard the Hajj from potential security threats.