Saudi shias can visit Iran’s Mashhad as Iran Air restores flights to Dammam
Iran’s flag carrier Iran Air has restored its direct flights between the city of Mashhad and the Saudi Arabian city of Dammam after a nine-year hiatus and as part of efforts to facilitate visits by members of the Saudi shia community to Iran's largest religious tourism hub.
Spokesman of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization Jaffar Yazarloo said on Monday that Iran Air will carry out flights from Mashhad to Dammam on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on December 3.
He said the flights will mostly accommodate passengers from Dammam seeking to visit Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city located in the country’s northeast which is home to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth shia Imam.
Iran Air’s CEO also said on Monday that the resumption of flights between Mashhad and Dammam is in line with the policies of the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia to expand their economic and cultural relations.
Shamseddin Farzadipour said that the restoration of flights had been realized despite growing international pressures on Iran’s national airline.
The announcements come amid improving relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia and more than 18 months after the two countries agreed to restore their diplomatic relations upon a mediation initiative by China.
Iranian aviation authorities said in May last year that Saudi Arabia was seeking direct flights between Dammam and Mashhad.
Iran’s transportation ministry also said at the time that it had received an official request from Saudi Arabian authorities for three regular flights between the two countries.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed for many years on arrangements for flights carrying Iranians to hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
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Saudi shias can visit Iran’s Mashhad as Iran Air restores flights to Dammam
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