Islamabad, May 19, 2025: In a landmark development for regional relations, Saudi Arabia has resumed direct flights for Iranian pilgrims traveling to Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage—an unprecedented move since 2015.
This restart of flights highlights the ongoing thaw and reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran after nearly a decade of diplomatic freeze.
Saudi budget airline Flynas has officially recommenced its flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, with additional routes planned from Mashhad, allowing over 35,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Hajj smoothly this year.
A senior Saudi civil aviation source confirmed to AFP that these flights are exclusively for the Hajj season, starting in early June, and do not represent commercial routes.
Traditionally, Iranian pilgrims relied on chartered flights during this sacred period.
This renewed Saudi-Iran direct connectivity comes as a direct result of the diplomatic breakthrough achieved in March 2023.
Brokered by China, this historic deal ended a seven-year rift that began after the 2016 execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia—a move that sparked protests and the burning of the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
Since then, both nations have steadily repaired ties by exchanging ambassadors, engaging in high-level diplomatic visits, and collaborating on regional issues.
A notable milestone came last November when Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Riyadh for a joint Arab-Islamic summit, marking the first such visit by an Iranian leader in 20 years.
This visit also underscored the countries’ shared interest in addressing regional conflicts, including the Gaza crisis.
Additionally, Iran Air’s December resumption of flights between Mashhad and Dammam further illustrates the growing bilateral engagement.
Most recently, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Tehran and his meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei underscored the depth of this diplomatic warming.
Analysts believe that the resumption of direct Hajj flights is both a symbolic and practical step that will ease pilgrimage travel for thousands of Iranians and reflect the broader shift toward constructive dialogue.
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As Saudi Arabia and Iran rebuild their ties, these flights represent more than just transportation—they symbolize hope for peaceful coexistence in a historically turbulent region.
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