Rafsanjani’s Visit To Saudi Arabia Requires Special Arrangements

Tehran, May 20, IRNA - Mohammad Hashemi, chief of staff of the Chairman of the Expediency Council said on Monday that the travel of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to Saudi Arabia requires special arrangements. Speaking to IRNA, he said, since an invitation had been extended to Ayatollah Rafsanjani by Saudi King Abdullah, the visit will take place but after special arrangements are made. The visit will not be one for pilgrimage and for this reason it needs special requirements, he said. Saudi Ambassador in Tehran Abdur-Rahman bin Gharman al-Shahri in his April 2 meeting with Rafsanjani extended an official invitation to him on behalf of the Saudi King to pay an official visit to Saudi Arabia. In the meeting, the Saudi Ambassador said Saudi officials and its people attach importance to Rafsanjani’s position and enthusiastically wait to welcome him./end