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| Number of Iranians Killed in Hajj Stampede Grows to 464 | Number of Iranians Killed in Hajj Stampede Grows to 464 |
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| BEIRUT, Lebanon — The number of Iranian pilgrims who died last week in a human crush near Mecca in Saudi Arabia has nearly doubled to 464, Iran reported on Thursday, increasing tensions between the two countries and adding to doubts that the Saudi government had provided a full accounting of the disaster. | BEIRUT, Lebanon — The number of Iranian pilgrims who died last week in a human crush near Mecca in Saudi Arabia has nearly doubled to 464, Iran reported on Thursday, increasing tensions between the two countries and adding to doubts that the Saudi government had provided a full accounting of the disaster. |
| The deaths occurred on Sept. 24, when large crowds of pilgrims converged on streets with few exits in a tent city in Mina, near one of the crucial stops on the annual pilgrimage known as the hajj. Iran has been joined by India, Indonesia and Pakistan in suggesting that the Saudis have not fully acknowledged the human toll. | The deaths occurred on Sept. 24, when large crowds of pilgrims converged on streets with few exits in a tent city in Mina, near one of the crucial stops on the annual pilgrimage known as the hajj. Iran has been joined by India, Indonesia and Pakistan in suggesting that the Saudis have not fully acknowledged the human toll. |
| Saudi officials blamed some pilgrims for failing to follow directions, leading to overcrowding that was exacerbated by sweltering heat and the dehydration of many pilgrims. | Saudi officials blamed some pilgrims for failing to follow directions, leading to overcrowding that was exacerbated by sweltering heat and the dehydration of many pilgrims. |
| But other governments and people in the area at the time have accused the authorities of failing to control the crowds and of temporarily closing exits, leaving the pilgrims confined. | |
| The Saudi king, Salman, has ordered an investigation, but no progress has been announced. The inquiry does not have an expected completion date. | The Saudi king, Salman, has ordered an investigation, but no progress has been announced. The inquiry does not have an expected completion date. |
| The Saudi Health Ministry has kept the official toll at 769 dead and 934 injured, despite statements from more than 20 countries that, added together, put the dead at more than 900. | The Saudi Health Ministry has kept the official toll at 769 dead and 934 injured, despite statements from more than 20 countries that, added together, put the dead at more than 900. |
| The crush was the deadliest accident during the pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, in a quarter-century. | The crush was the deadliest accident during the pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, in a quarter-century. |
| The Iranian toll is by far the highest, and is the country’s single deadliest event since 2005, when an earthquake killed more than 600 people. The toll from the stampede includes pilgrims who remain unaccounted for, as Iranian officials have given up on finding survivors. | The Iranian toll is by far the highest, and is the country’s single deadliest event since 2005, when an earthquake killed more than 600 people. The toll from the stampede includes pilgrims who remain unaccounted for, as Iranian officials have given up on finding survivors. |
| The deaths have added new fuel to the harsh rivalry between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, which compete across the Middle East and beyond for strategic and religious influence. That rivalry has grown more intense in recent years as the countries have backed opposing sides in proxy wars in Syria and Yemen. | The deaths have added new fuel to the harsh rivalry between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, which compete across the Middle East and beyond for strategic and religious influence. That rivalry has grown more intense in recent years as the countries have backed opposing sides in proxy wars in Syria and Yemen. |
| The Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned on Wednesday of “harsh” measures if Saudi Arabia did not promptly repatriate the dead Iranian pilgrims. | The Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned on Wednesday of “harsh” measures if Saudi Arabia did not promptly repatriate the dead Iranian pilgrims. |
| “The Islamic Republic of Iran has so far showed self-restraint, observed Islamic decency and brotherly respect in the Islamic world,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in comments broadcast on Iranian state television. “But they should know that Iran’s hand is superior to many others and has more capabilities.” | “The Islamic Republic of Iran has so far showed self-restraint, observed Islamic decency and brotherly respect in the Islamic world,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in comments broadcast on Iranian state television. “But they should know that Iran’s hand is superior to many others and has more capabilities.” |
| But it remained unclear what actions Iran would take, if any. | But it remained unclear what actions Iran would take, if any. |
| Among the Iranian dead was Ghazanfar Roknabadi, a former ambassador to Lebanon, an important post given Iran’s close relationship with Hezbollah. | Among the Iranian dead was Ghazanfar Roknabadi, a former ambassador to Lebanon, an important post given Iran’s close relationship with Hezbollah. |
| Iranian officials have complained that they were not granted visas to the kingdom and were prevented from gaining access to their citizens in Saudi medical facilities. | Iranian officials have complained that they were not granted visas to the kingdom and were prevented from gaining access to their citizens in Saudi medical facilities. |
| Those criticisms were echoed by Indonesia, from which the largest number of people join to the pilgrimage each year. Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, an official with the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, said diplomats had waited four days before getting full access to the dead and wounded from their country. | Those criticisms were echoed by Indonesia, from which the largest number of people join to the pilgrimage each year. Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, an official with the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, said diplomats had waited four days before getting full access to the dead and wounded from their country. |
| “The Saudi Arabian government has its own regulation, tradition, culture and procedures in dealing with such cases,” said Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Indonesia’s religious affairs minister, according to The Associated Press. “This has not allowed us enough freedom in our effort to identify” the victims. | “The Saudi Arabian government has its own regulation, tradition, culture and procedures in dealing with such cases,” said Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Indonesia’s religious affairs minister, according to The Associated Press. “This has not allowed us enough freedom in our effort to identify” the victims. |
| This week, the Saudi government distributed pictures of 1,100 people to foreign diplomats to help with the identification process. But Saudi officials said the photos included pilgrims who had died of natural causes or were among the 111 killed when a crane toppled on Sept. 11 and crashed through the roof of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, along with those killed in the Mina stampede. | This week, the Saudi government distributed pictures of 1,100 people to foreign diplomats to help with the identification process. But Saudi officials said the photos included pilgrims who had died of natural causes or were among the 111 killed when a crane toppled on Sept. 11 and crashed through the roof of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, along with those killed in the Mina stampede. |
| More than 20 countries from across Africa, Asia and the Middle East have reported having citizens killed in the stampede, including 83 from Egypt, 64 from Nigeria, 59 from Indonesia and 45 from India. Hundreds more are missing. | More than 20 countries from across Africa, Asia and the Middle East have reported having citizens killed in the stampede, including 83 from Egypt, 64 from Nigeria, 59 from Indonesia and 45 from India. Hundreds more are missing. |