Iran cancels all Saudi flights in Ramadan

"In order to prevent the spread of swine flu, there will be no flights from Iran to Saudi Arabia during the holy month of Ramadan," Reza Jafarzadeh, spokesman for the Iranian civil aviation organization, said.

Iran will bring back all its citizens currently in Saudi Arabia before the start of Ramadan, he said.

Iran has banned Umrah during Ramadan to control swine flu. The country has so far reported over 130 cases of the H1N1 flu strain, the majority of them among returning pilgrims.

A senior Saudi Haj official said the Iranian decision would not have an impact on the Ramadan Umrah season, which begins in about 10 days.

"The financial losses expected to result from the absence of Iranians during Ramadan Umrah may not exceed 5 percent on the sectors providing services to visitors and pilgrims in Makkah," Chairman of the National Haj Committee Saad Al-Qurashi said.

Minister of Haj Fouad Al-Farsy earlier said it was for individual countries to decide whether their citizens come to Saudi Arabia for Umrah or Haj.

"Saudi Arabia will not interfere with any decision taken by any country, for it is that country's internal affair," he said.

On Monday, Palestinian Health Minister Fathi Abu Moghli called on Palestinians to postpone Umrah this year.

Abu Moghli's statement came after his ministry confirmed Sunday that five new cases of swine flu were discovered among people returning from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version.