(VOVworld) - Iran’s Supreme Leader has asked Saudi Arabia to apologize for the Mecca stampede on Thursday that killed 770 people, including 144 Iranians. Iran’s state-run Press TV quoted Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday as saying that Saudi rulers, instead of shunning their responsibility, must accept their responsibility in this grave incident by apologizing to the Muslim Ummah and bereft families. Iran has accused Saudi officials of mismanaging the event and questioned whether Riyadh is a suitable place to host the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The criticism followed Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir’s comment on Saturday that this is not a situation with which to play politics, adding that Saudi attaches great importance to ensuring pilgrims’ safety. He pledged that such incidents won’t happen again.