Huge numbers of Muslims prayed on Mount Arafat on Tuesday at the climax of the hajj pilgrimage, as a punishing desert sun sent temperatures soaring towards 40C.From daybreak, thousands of white-robed worshippers recited Quranic verses on the 230 feet rocky hill near Mecca, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his last sermon.More than 1.5 million people have joined the hajj this year despite the shadow of war across the Middle East created by the US and Israeli war with Iran.During the fighting, Tehran retaliated with waves of drone and ballistic missile strikes, hitting major infrastructure and energy installations across the Gulf, including in Saudi Arabia.More than 30,000 Iranians have made the journey, about a third of the 86,000 originally expected. Iran's IRNA state news agency said the 'wartime situation' explained the drop.Despite the war, Saudi officials said over the weekend that more pilgrims had travelled from abroad this year than in 2025.The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means to do so. Huge numbers of Muslims prayed on Mount Arafat on Tuesday at the climax of the hajj pilgrimage, as a punishing desert sun sent temperatures soaring towards 40C Muslim pilgrims gather at Mount of Mercy on the plain of Arafat during the annual hajj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, May 26, 2026 From daybreak, thousands of white-robed worshippers recited Quranic verses on the 230 feet rocky hill near Mecca, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his last sermon Prospective pilgrims arrive at the Mount Arafat (Mountain of Mercy) to perform wuquf, considered as the most essential pillar of the Hajj Muslim pilgrims gather near misting fans at Mount of Mercy on the plain of Arafat during the annual hajj pilgrimage in 40C heat Muslim pilgrims gather at Mount of Mercy on the plain of Arafat as the sun rises during the annual hajj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, May 26, 2026 More than 1.5 million people have joined the hajj this year despite the shadow of war across the Middle East created by the US and Israeli war with Iran his aerial view shows the Grand Mosque complex in Mecca, as Muslims perform the evening prayer around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, on May 24, 2026 Muslim pilgrims pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage More than 30,000 Iranians have made the journey, about a third of the 86,000 originally expected Iran's IRNA state news agency said the 'wartime situation' explained the drop. Despite the war, Saudi officials said over the weekend that more pilgrims had travelled from abroad this year than in 2025 Muslim pilgrims prostrate as they offer evening prayers around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site in the holy city of Mecca during the annual hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, May 24, 2026 The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means to do so With temperatures hitting 44 degrees in Mecca in recent days, Saudi authorities have urged pilgrims to drink plenty of water and protect themselves from the sun during the mostly outdoor rituals, which can take five days or more to complete Muslim pilgrims pray while touching the walls of the Kaaba Muslim pilgrims gather near misting fans at Mount of Mercy on the plain of Arafat during the annual hajj pilgrimage Muslim pilgrims arrive at the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy on the Plain of Arafat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage Since men are prohibited from wearing hats, many carry umbrellas to try to keep the blistering sun at bay The hajj is said to follow the path of the Prophet Mohammed's final pilgrimage, about 1,400 years agoWith temperatures hitting 44 degrees in Mecca in recent days, Saudi authorities have urged pilgrims to drink plenty of water and protect themselves from the sun during the mostly outdoor rituals, which can take five days or more to complete.Since men are prohibited from wearing hats, many carry umbrellas to try to keep the blistering sun at bay.After Mount Arafat, pilgrims will spend the night in Muzdalifah, where they will collect pebbles for the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual in Mina, starting on Wednesday.The hajj is said to follow the path of the Prophet Mohammed's final pilgrimage, about 1,400 years ago.It has long been an important source of legitimacy for the Al Saud dynasty, whose monarch has the title 'Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques', in Mecca and Medina.It comes as Mojtaba Khamenei, the Islamic Republic's third Supreme Leader, said in a message published Tuesday for the Hajj pilgrimage that Israel would not exist within the next 15 years.The message referred to remarks made a decade ago by Ali Khamenei, the slain former supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, who said Israel would 'not see the next 25 years.' Describing Israel as an 'unstable Zionist regime' and a 'cancerous tumor,' the message said it was 'approaching the final stages of its cursed existence.'