Mystery continues over Iran's missing ambassador
The case of Ghazanfar Roknabadi, Iran's former Lebanon ambassador missing since the September hajj stampede, will be taken to the United Nations, according to Iranian officials.
The Sept. 24 stampede in the Saudi Arabian city of Mina during the hajj pilgrimage has become another fault line in the Middle East’s most contentious rivalry. Iran, which suffered 464 deaths in the tragedy, had one of the highest death tolls. The Associated Press reports total fatalities of 2,177, a figure disputed by Saudi officials, who place the number at 769.
Most troublesome for Iran, 28 individuals are still unaccounted for, including Iran’s former ambassador to Lebanon, Ghazanfar Roknabadi.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will raise the issue with both the United Nations and the International Red Cross, according to Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs.
Abdollahian said Iranian hajj officials have inquired about Roknabadi’s status to Saudi officials and the Saudi charge d'affairs in Tehran has also been asked about the matter.
