TEHRAN - Iranian Health Minister Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi has said there might be Iranians in Saudi prisons following the Hajj stampede.

“The current statistics about the number of Iranians who died in the Mina incident are not correct. The reason is that some pilgrims are likely to be among those arrested or in prison or hospitalized, of whom Saudi officials have not yet informed us,” Qazizadeh Hashemi said on Tuesday, the Mashreq news website reported.

The numbers released by the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization are not recognized by the government as correct, Hashemi stated.

He pointed out that only those whose bodies are transferred to Iran or have been buried in Saudi Arabia with their families’ consent are considered dead.

The official said the correct number of the fatalities can be given only after all pilgrims are returned to Iran.

Qazizadeh Hashemi was the only top ranking Iranian official who was issued a visa by Saudi Arabia to visit the kingdom following the September 24 stampede which according to the latest statistics cost the lives of 465 Iranians pilgrims.

While in the Saudi kingdom the minister visited Iranians hospitalized in Saudi Arabia and held talks with Riyadh officials on the transfer of the pilgrims killed in the crush to the country.

SP/P