Tehran, Dec 22, IRNA – Ten Iranian Hajj victims are still missing, Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Expatriates Affairs Hassan Qashqavi said on Tuesday.

Latest developments regarding Mina catastrophe, particularly the legal aspects of the tragedy have been discussed in the parliament (Majlis) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, he added.

The official said that 10 Iranian pilgrims are still missing and Iran will continue its efforts to return back corpses of the buried victims.

The Mina tragedy took place during this year’s Hajj rituals when two large masses of pilgrims fused at a crossroads in Mina, a few kilometers east of the holy city of Mecca, on their way to participate in the symbolic stoning of Satan ritual in Jamarat.

Saudi Arabia claims nearly 770 people were killed in the incident, but officials with Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization say about 4,700 people, including 464 Iranians, lost their lives in the tragic event.

The number of the Iranian fatalities exceeds that of other countries.

Iran has criticized Saudi Arabia for failing to responsibly carry out its duties during Hajj, saying Riyadh’s incompetence in handling safety at the rituals caused the deadly incident.

By IRNA