Iran asks Qatar to help free Iranian pilgrims kidnapped in Syria

(MNA) – Iran calls on Qatar to do its best to help free Iranian pilgrims abducted in Syria on Saturday.

The call came in a phone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani late on Saturday.

The Qatari foreign minister promised to look over the matter and help out.

47 Iranian nationals were abducted while on a pilgrimage visit to Damascus on Saturday. The pilgrims were reportedly kidnapped on their way to Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque.

The pilgrims were abducted by armed assailants opposed to the Syrian government. The Qatari government has influence over the insurgents in Syria.

The foreign ministers of Iran and Qatar also discussed regional developments particularly the tense situation in Syria.