TEHRAN – The Iranian deputy foreign Minister for Consular and parliamentary affairs says the fate of 116 Iranian pilgrims, who went missing in the September 24 Mina stampede near Mecca, is not determined yet.

It is not clear whether the missing pilgrims are dead or alive or are being held somewhere, Hassan Qashqavi told a funeral ceremony for the Iranian diplomat Hassan Hosseini Moqaddam who lost his life in Mina.

It would not be possible for the officials determine the fate of missing Iranian Hajj pilgrims before the bodies of those who were killed in Mina stampede return home, he said, expressing hope that the fate of the other two Iranian diplomats now in the list of missing pilgrims will be clarified soon.

Deputy Foreign Minister for Protocols Ahmad Fahim and former Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi are the missing Iranian diplomats.

Saudis told Iran that the tragedy was “a divine destiny”, Qashqavi said, noting that Tehran however believes that even the incidents destined for men have to be administered and managed by people themselves.

“We have to be answerable to the families and Saudis should stand accountable,” the former Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

There are numerous bonds and friendship agreements between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and based on this history, Iran expects the Saudis to deal frankly with the issue, Qashqavi highlighted.

MD/P