With Turkish mediation, Riyadh decides to accept Iranian pilgrims

Given its conflict with Saudi Arabia, Iran has requested President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to play a meditation role in making Riyadh allow Iranians to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

The demand found a positive response after Turkish conciliation.

Tensions between the countries mounted after Saudi Arabia executed 47 people, including four Shiite Muslims including the prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The move triggered protests and the storming of the Saudi Embassy in the Shiite Islamic Republic of Iran.

The two countries also oppose one another's foreign policies and proxies in Yemen and Syria.