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Iran leader threatens 'fierce' reaction if Saudi does not return Hajj dead

Khamenei also calls on Muslim countries to investigate the deadly crush that killed over 769 people

Afp September 30, 2015

iran 039 s supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei photo afp

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. PHOTO: AFP

TEHRAN: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened a "fierce" reaction on Wednesday if Saudi Arabia does not quickly repatriate victims of last week's Hajj stampede.

"Saudi officials are failing to do their duties," Khamenei said in a speech to graduating navy officers following delays in the return of more than 200 Iranian bodies. "If Iran wants to react... our response will be fierce."

Read: Iran protests Saudi delay in repatriating Hajj dead

Khamenei also called on Muslim countries to investigate the deadly crush last Thursday that killed 769 people, including at least 239 Iranians.

"Representatives from Iran and the Islamic world should go to Saudi Arabia and investigate the cause of the Hajj incident," Khamenei was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.

COMMENTS (11)

Ammar | 9 years ago | Reply Bravo Rahbar!. The bodies should be brought back to where it belongs. Soudies are afraid to send back the bodies because they know that if they send back the bodies to the countries, the actual number of deaths will be clear (which is way more then 1200). and that is something they dont want. They have been lying about this tragic event though the very beginning!

ahmad | 9 years ago | Reply is this really news? Iranians have nothing else to do just threaten everyone around them? Agree with george

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goggi (Lahore) | 9 years ago | Reply He is giving a symbolic message to his Shia community........hands always on the chest! Therein lies the strength of Shiaism!

Amirebi | 9 years ago | Reply @George: What are you talking about exactly dude? They killed about 400 of our civilians in their country and are humiliating the others who are still in Saudi Arabia!! I am here seeing their family sitting in their home while they can not even receive their sweethearts corps back! then you expect us to greet Arabia? What are you, a potato maybe!

Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply what joke. politicizing a tragic event.

Proud Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @George: This is a really valid and concerning point of your. I support you. Thumbs up.

Sodomite | 9 years ago | Reply Saudis are the problem in the region. They have been instigating insurgencies all around and now it is going to bite them. The rest of the Islamic countries don't have the guts.

Nasir | 9 years ago | Reply People in Ihram died in the Hajj days while in the action of worship and they can have the privilege of having funeral prayers in the holy mosque and be buried in Makkah and Iran wants their bodies back? Why?

George | 9 years ago | Reply A clear message sent out to America and Europe who want to remove sanctions from Iran. We all can see how much intolerant they are. No one know what havoc they will create once sanctions are removed.

Shuaib | 9 years ago | Reply All drama. While in Saudia a Shia boy is being beheaded, they are bothered about this for political reasons. Whereas in Iran Sunnis are being beheaded and Saudia is bothered abutter nuclear programme.

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply We need more leaders like him. Bravo!

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