Top Iranian Official Dispels Rumors of Ex-Envoy’s Abduction in Hajj
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani on Wednesday quashed rumors that Ghazanfar Roknabadi, the country’s former ambassador to Lebanon, has been kidnapped in Saudi Arabia during Hajj pilgrimage.
Rumors about abduction of Mr. Roknabadi or a number of Iranian military commanders in Saudi Arabia are nothing but incorrect “subjective analysis” and inaccurate, Shamkhani told Tasnim on Wednesday.
He also noted that Iranian officials face no restrictions when it comes to making personal, religious trips, like the Hajj pilgrimage.
The former Iranian diplomat has gone missing after a deadly crush in Mina on September 24.
Roknabadi served as Iran’s ambassador to Beirut from 2010 to 2014.
According to Iranian officials, about 4,700 pilgrims were killed in the crush in Mina, near Mecca, when performing religious rites.
So far, 239 Iranian pilgrims have been pronounced dead in the crush, which marked the worst ever Hajj disaster.
Some 240 other Iranians, including Roknabadi, are still unaccounted for.
