Saudi Arabia announced a ban on "misuse of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj for political or sectarian purposes," stressing that no one will be allowed entry to the country for "acts that disturb public security and law and order."
On August 26, a day after this announcement, Yuriy Bilousov, Head of the War Crimes Department at Ukraine’s Prosecutor General's Office, stated in a television program that the opening of this criminal case signifies that Ukraine now recognizes Iran as a party involved in the war on its territory: "In fact, Ukraine has informed the entire world and presented evidence showing that Iranian military representatives are participating in Russia's attack on Ukraine."
According to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, the investigation revealed that between July and August 2022, Russian military representatives reached an agreement with the Islamic Republic on the purchase of Shahed-136 and Mohajer-6 attack drones, along with related equipment, from Iran.
Kostin further wrote that after the contract was signed, Iranian experts trained Russian soldiers to use these drones in combat operations against Ukraine.
In fact, in July 2022, the United States warned that Russia and Iran were engaged in a process to deploy Iranian suicide drones in the war.
Kostin added that between September and October 2022, a group of military instructors from the Islamic Republic launched at least 20 attack drones in Ukraine's Dnipro and Mykolaiv regions, leading to the destruction and damage of civilian infrastructure protected under international humanitarian law.
The Security Service of Ukraine had previously identified this IRGC brigadier general, stating that Brigadier General Sharifi Mollasaraei directly assisted in commanding Russian Federation occupation forces in attacks on Ukraine and organized the training of Russian troops.
Russia has used hundreds of Iranian kamikaze drones since October 2022 to attack civilian and infrastructure targets. Russia also uses the drones in large-scale missile attacks to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. The latest massive attack earlier this week saw around 100 Shahed drones used.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine, in 2022, Mollasaraei led a team of Iranian drone instructors who traveled to the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General emphasized that this IRGC brigadier general is charged under Ukraine's criminal laws with "aiding in an aggressive war as part of a premeditated plan against Ukraine, violating the laws and customs of war, and committing war crimes."
The report also indicates that, in addition to Mollasaraei, seven other military personnel from the Islamic Republic who were sent as instructors to train Russian occupation forces in Ukraine and the occupied territories are facing similar charges.
In October 2022, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of providing military assistance to the aggressor country, Russia, in its war against Ukraine.
According to published reports, since the fall of 2022, the Russian Federation has used Iranian-made Shahed-136 and 131 kamikaze drones and Mohajer-6 multi-purpose drones in its war against Ukraine.
The Iranian government initially denied supplying its drones to the Russian military but later admitted to it, though it claimed that the drones were delivered before Russia's war against Ukraine began.
In November 2023, the White House warned that the Iranian government was preparing to provide ballistic missiles to Russia. Reuters later reported that Iran had already sent hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia.
The official emphasized that Israel's ongoing operation, aimed at dismantling this Iranian-backed network, has no set end date.
The senior Israeli official outlined the extent of Iran's involvement in the West Bank, accusing Tehran of being the driving force behind the growing militant presence in the region. "Tehran has been involved in equipping, planning, and building terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank for more than two and a half years," the official stated.
"Officials of the Islamic Republic have provided money, weapons, and military training to Palestinian militants, and this [Israeli] operation aims to disrupt and destroy their capabilities."
Tensions have flared up between Tehran and Jerusalem in recent months, with Iran launching an unprecedented missile and drone attack on April that Israeli air defenses and allied air forces were able to fend off.
The official noted that the operation has already resulted in the deaths of 18 people, two of whom were civilians. "The military is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding these civilian deaths, but the focus remains on dismantling the terrorist networks that Iran has helped establish," he added.
The ongoing military operation, which began early Wednesday, is one of the largest attacks on the West Bank in months. It spans the flashpoint cities of Tulkarm, Jenin, and the Jordan Valley, involving hundreds of troops, drones, helicopters, and armored vehicles.
This campaign, as Israeli officials have made clear, is not just a reaction to local unrest but a broader strategy to counter Iranian influence in the region. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon has been vocal about Iran's role, stating, "Since October 7th, Iran has been actively working to smuggle sophisticated explosive devices into Judea and Samaria, intended for use in suicide bombings in the heart of Israeli cities."
On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants launched a large-scale surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. This unprecedented assault involved the firing of thousands of rockets into Israel, along with coordinated ground operations where Hamas fighters breached the border and infiltrated Israeli towns and military bases. The attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, including both civilians and soldiers, and led to the capture of over 250 hostages, who were taken back to Gaza by the militants.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz has described the situation as "a war in every sense," highlighting Iran's attempts to destabilize the region by arming and funding militant groups. "The IDF is operating with force since the night, in the refugee camps of Jenin and Tulkarm to thwart Islamic-Iranian terror infrastructure that was set up there," Katz wrote on Wednesday. He suggested that Israel might need to consider "temporary evacuations" of Palestinian neighborhoods to minimize civilian casualties, a tactic that has already been employed extensively in Gaza.
Tehran's support for militant groups in the West Bank is viewed by Israel as part of a broader effort to encircle and weaken the Jewish state, much like the ongoing tensions with Hezbollah on Israel's northern border.
Despite these concerns, Israel remains resolute in its mission. "The State of Israel will not sit idly by and wait for scenes of buses and cafes exploding in city centers," ambassador Danon asserted, emphasizing Israel's determination to confront the threats.
According to draft regulations released by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, pilgrims are forbidden from bringing any prohibited items, such as pictures, books, flags, slogans, political publications, or other banned materials, into Saudi Arabia, according to the Saudi Gazette.
Pilgrims are strictly barred from engaging in activities or gatherings that could disrupt public order, security, tranquility, or health, as part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to ensure a peaceful pilgrimage.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, which places significant emphasis on the intertwining of religion and politics, has long marked the "Disavowal of Polytheists" ceremony as a politically charged ritual. Since the 1979 revolution, Iranian pilgrims in Mecca have observed this ceremony, traditionally accompanied by the chant of "Death to America." However, in 1987, this ritual led to a tragic confrontation between Shia demonstrators and Saudi Arabian security forces, resulting in the deaths of over 400 individuals.
In the aftermath of the 1987 incident, the Islamic Republic refrained from holding the ceremony for several years. It wasn't until 2001 that it was reintroduced, albeit in a symbolic and significantly scaled-down form. Since then, it has been conducted within the confines of a closed tent operated by the office of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
However, almost during every annual hajj pilgrimage there have been incidents involving some Iranians and Saudi authorities related to political manifestations. The Iranian regime, sending its supporters to the hajj, seems eager to use the opportunity to steer up sentiments during the most important Islamic gathering.
Iranian authorities and state media also describe another religious act, the Arbaeen Walk to sites in Iraq, which attracted over 3.6 million Iranian participants this year, as an expression of “Shia soft power.” This characterization highlights a divergence in how mass religious gatherings are perceived and managed, with Iran framing such events as a display of cultural and sectarian influence, while the Saudi regulations for Hajj stress the importance of maintaining political neutrality and public order during religious pilgrimages.
, marking the conclusion of the 40-day mourning period following Ashura—which commemorates the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the third Shia Imam and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in 680 AD—is recognized as the world's largest annual gathering.
Traditionally, Shia Muslims convene in Karbala, Iraq, at the burial site of Imam Hussain to observe Arbaeen. Pilgrims often undertake extensive journeys on foot, spanning hundreds of kilometers, to reach the shrine of Imam Hussain and other significant Shia sites. This mass pilgrimage not only serves as a religious expression but also provides a fertile ground for the dissemination of Iranian propaganda and influence among other pilgrims during the ceremonies.
