Iranian President will visit Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 4/6/1998

King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia on Sunday met with Iranian Minister of the Interior Abdullah Nouri. The Saudi News Agency said King Fahd received the Iranian minister at al-Salaam palace in Jeddah, adding the Iranian minister conveyed to King Fahd greetings from Iranian President Muhammad Khatami.

The Iranian minister also held talks with his Saudi counterpart, Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz, with the Saudi crown prince, deputy Premier and chairman of the national guard, Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, and with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz.

The Iranian news agency, IRNA, quoted the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh, Mohammadreza Nouri Shahroud, as saying that Iranian President Muhammad Khatami will visit Saudi Arabia at the invitation of King Fahd and Prince Abdullah, adding that the Iranian ambassador also said earlier that Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal will visit Tehran after al-Haj (Pilgrimage) season.

In press statements, Nouri said his country will seek for the pilgrimage to be this year and in coming years an "element of solidarity and reconciliation with Saudi Arabia."

Meanwhile, Iranian dailies quoted the Iranian responsible for pilgrimage affairs, Hijatul Islam Muhammad Reshahri, as saying that Iranian pilgrims will observe this year a demonstration against Israel and the US, though the Saudi authorities ban any political demonstrations at holy Islamic sites.

A statement read by Saudi customs director-general, Lt Gen. Asaad al-Farieh, said that the number of pilgrims who came to Saudi Arabia from outside the country is estimated at 2.132 million including 663,000 men.

Previous Stories:
  Saudi prince: Relations with Iran are good   (4/2/1998)
  Iranian - Saudi relations highlighted   (3/16/1998)
  Iranian FM visits Saudi Arabia tomorrow   (3/14/1998)

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