The 460-member group was transported to Saudi Arabia Friday evening on two 747 airplanes.

They were officially seen off in Tehran by Head of Iranian Hajj pilgrims and Supreme Leader's representative for Hajj affairs Hojatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Reyshahri and by Saudi Ambassador in Tehran Ossama bin Ahmed al-Sonusi.

Over 100,000 pilgrims will go to Saudi Arabia this year to perform Hajj rituals in a 21-day operation, said an official from Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization on the sidelines of the farewell ceremony.

Abdollah Nasiri said that this year, Iranian pilgrims would be transported to Saudi Arabia from 17 different airports throughout the country.

The operations for flying pilgrims back home will begin from December 24 and end 16 days later, Nasiri said.


Iranmania