Tasnim– An Iranian official expressed satisfaction with the “dignified” presence of the country’s nationals in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, hoping that Iranians would have the chance to attend the Umrah (minor) Hajj as well.

Iranian pilgrims could fortunately participate in this year’s Hajj in a dignified manner, Seyed Ali Qazi-Askar, representative of Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Hajj and pilgrimage affairs, said on Friday.

He also expressed satisfaction with the fulfillment of “most of the agreements” Iran had reached with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, saying the Saudi minister has thanked Iranian pilgrims for performing the ritual in an orderly, organized and spiritual manner.

Qazi-Askar also expressed the hope that the suitable process of this year’s Hajj would pave the way for the participation of Iranians in Umrah pilgrimage in the coming months.

The Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by Muslims. Unlike the Hajj, which is also known as the "major Hajj pilgrimage", it can be undertaken at any time of the year.

More than 86,000 Iranian pilgrims traveled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year.

In 2016, more than 1.8 million pilgrims attended Hajj, but Iranians stayed at home that year after tensions between Riyadh and Tehran boiled over following a deadly crush of people during the 2015 pilgrimage.