Baghdad, June 16, IRNA � Head of Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Saeed Ohadi said on Thursday that the number of Iranian pilgrims of religious sites in Iraq is expected to double this year after a cancelation of Hajj for Iranians due to Saudi sabotage.

Ohadi, who is visiting Baghdad, made the remark in a press conference in the Iranian embassy in Iraq.

He said that following the recent victories by the Iraqi Army and Popular Mobilization Forces (al-Hashd al-Shaabi) against Daesh Takfiri groups, security has been restored in the country's religious cities and therefore the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization plans to increase the number of Iranian pilgrims by 100% this year.

Ohadi said that one of the aims of his visit to Iraq is to prepare the ground for Iranian pilgrims visiting Iraq and examining the capacities of Iraq for hosting Iranian pilgrims.

By IRNA