TEHRAN – The head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization has said Saudi Arabia continues to withhold all cooperation toward compensating the victims of a deadly crush during Hajj pilgrimage rituals last year.

“Saudi Arabia refuses to offer the smallest amount of cooperation in this regard (providing compensation for the victims); and not only does it not pay any blood money, but also, interestingly, it has failed to turn over the bodies of martyrs from many countries other than the Islamic Republic,” Saeed Ohadi told Fars in remarks published on Wednesday.

He also said the families of the victims are going to meet Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Kahmenei in near future.

SP/AK