SAUDI-HAJ/AL-JUBEIR-KERRY Saudi FM says Iran should not "play politics" with Haj tragedy

Record ID: 138052

  • Title: SAUDI-HAJ/AL-JUBEIR-KERRY Saudi FM says Iran should not "play politics" with Haj tragedy
  • Date: 27th September 2015
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 26, 2015) (STATE TV) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER ADEL AL-JUBEIR SHAKING HANDS WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY REPORTER ASKS OFF CAMERA (English): "Mister Foreign Minister, Iran says that Saudi Arabia is - bears responsibility for the deaths of so many people at Mecca. What do you
  • Embargoed: 12th October 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABAY9VI3M2WNOCXFCZWVOQ37JC
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir, accused Iran on Saturday (September 26) with "playing politics" with the haj pilgrimage tragedy.
    Before a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Jubeir said, "this is not a situation with which to play politics. I would hope that the Iranian leaders would be more sensible and more thoughtful with regards to those who perished in this tragedy and wait until we see the results of the investigation."
    Iran has repeatedly voiced outrage at the deaths of 131 of its nationals at the Muslims world's largest annual gathering of people.
    In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly earlier on Saturday Iranian President Hassan Rouhani demanded an investigation into the crush that killed more than 700 people at the annual haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
    Rouhani's comments were a sign Tehran does not intend to tone down criticism of its regional rival Saudi Arabia. Both Iran and the Saudis see themselves as leaders in the Muslim world.
    Saudi Arabia suggested on Friday (September 25) pilgrims who ignored crowd control rules bore some blame for the incident. Saudi King Salman ordered a review of haj plans, and Health Minister Khalid al-Falih said an investigation would be conducted.
    Kerry said Saudi Arabia has taken "great care" over the years in managing the pilgrimage and added, "I think all of us are really focused on the loss of life and not on pointing fingers."
    As to the Saudi investigation into the tragedy, Jubeir said, "We will reveal the facts when they emerge, and we will not hold anything back. If mistakes were made, we will - those who made them will be held accountable."
    Rouhani suggested on Friday the tragedy may be a result of the Saudis transferring experienced troops to Yemen to fight Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, a military campaign that Tehran has repeatedly criticised.
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