Reza Nakhjavani, the CEO of Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company (IAC), said on Sunday that the pilgrims will be sent to Saudi Arabia from ten airports.

The airports of Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, Tabriz, Sari, Yazd, Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, Kerman, Zahedan, and Imam Khomeini (RA) International Airport will be at the service of the pilgrims this year after a 9-year hiatus in sending Umrah pilgrims, Nakhjavani said.

He further said that the sending of pilgrims will begin on January 3, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (SA), the revered daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed under a Chinese-brokered deal to restore diplomatic relations severed in 2016 over a host of issues.

Iran officially reopened its embassy in Riyadh in June, followed by Saudi Arabia reopening its embassy in Tehran.

MNA/IRN