Saudi Arabia hosts 1.5 million Hajj pilgrims as Iran war ceasefire hangs in balance

The annual Hajj pilgrimage officially began on Monday, with more than 1.5 million Muslims arriving in Saudi Arabia from abroad. Pilgrims performed the first rites, including the tawaf around the Kaaba, and moved to the tent city of Mina before gathering on the Plain of Arafat for the day‑long Wuquf Arafah, the spiritual climax of the journey.

The rites unfolded under intense desert heat, with temperatures reaching 45‑47 °C. Saudi authorities distributed water, umbrellas and misting fans, and posted large‑scale crowd‑control and medical teams. Air‑defence batteries were deployed around Mecca to protect the holy sites amid a fragile cease‑fire in the Iran‑Israel‑U.S. conflict.

Pilgrims spoke of gratitude and hope for peace. Egyptian pilgrim Mohammed Chahada said the war “has affected the whole world” and expressed the wish for an end to hostilities. Iranian pilgrims described the Hajj as a rare respite from the war that has disrupted travel.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a memorandum on a peace deal with Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz had been “largely negotiated,” adding that the agreement must still be finalized. The statements and ongoing regional tensions were repeatedly mentioned by officials and pilgrims alike.

Despite security concerns and rising travel costs, the Saudi ministry reported that this year’s inbound pilgrim numbers exceed those of the previous year.