Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday Saudi Arabia should be punished for its role in a deadly stampede at last year's Hajj pilgrimage.
"The countries in the region and the Islamic world should band together and punish the Saudi government," Rowhani said, days before this year's Hajj is set to attract millions to holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
He accused the Saudis of incompetence in last year's handling of event.
The regional rivals have traded blame for a stampede at the 2015 Hajj that claimed around 2,000 lives, based on a dpa tally and other independent reports. The Saudis had placed the death toll at 769.
Rouhani's comments come just days after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticized the Saudis as unbelievers and questioned the country's role in administering the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
In 2015, more than 2 million pilgrims flocked to Mecca, the birthplace of the prophet Mohammed. All devout Muslims are expected to perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime, provided they are fit enough and have the financial means to do so.
