Iran suspends Umrah trips to Saudi Arabia: Report

(AP) / 13 April 2015

• Iran’s Culture Ministry made the decision over alleged abuse suffered by two male Iranian pilgrims traveling through Saudi’s Jeddah airport in March.

Tehran — Iranian state television is reporting that the Islamic Republic has suspended all Umrah trips to Saudi Arabia amid growing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The report on Monday said Iran’s Culture Ministry made the decision over alleged abuse suffered by two male Iranian pilgrims traveling through Saudi’s Jeddah airport in March. The alleged abuse, the details of which authorities have not publicly discussed, has sparked unauthorised protests at the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.
Some 500,000 Iranians visit Saudi Arabia each year for the Umrah, which involves pilgrims visiting the holy cities of Makkah and Medina.

Tensions between Iran and the Saudi Arabia have been strained amid Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen targeting rebels known as Houthis there.