Iran announced Thursday that it will suspend its participation in the annual hajj, the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia that is a religious duty for all Muslims, in the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the two Middle Eastern heavyweights.

The decision comes amid Iran’s increasingly strident criticism over how Saudi Arabia manages the pilgrimage in the wake of a disaster last September that resulted in the deaths of at least 2,000 pilgrims, including 464 Iranians, according to reports.

Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati told the state news agency that negotiations with Saudi Arabia over granting visas and transportation for the hajj had broken down, making it impossible for Iranians to visit Mecca this year.

Iran and Saudi Arabia, which follow Shi’ite and Sunni strands of Islam, respectively, have long been rivals in the region, but in recent years competition has intensified.

The two countries are supporting opposite sides in the conflicts raging in Yemen and Syria and have accused each other of supporting terrorism.

Iran last suspended its participation in the hajj in 1988 and 1989 after it accused Saudi forces of opening fire on its pilgrims.

Washington Post