Saudi Arabia has barred an Iranian plane carrying Muslim pilgrims to Mecca from entering its airspace, claiming the flight had not applied for a permit.

Saudi Arabia has barred an Iranian plane carrying Muslim pilgrims to Mecca from entering its airspace, claiming the flight had not applied for a permit.

The plane was carrying 260 passengers heading to perform the lesser pilgrimage, but it was denied access to the kingdom's airspace Wednesday afternoon "due to the lack of a permit" to fly to Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's aviation authority said on Thursday.

"Such violations, whether committed by an Iranian airline or others, would not be allowed in Saudi airspace," said civil aviation spokesman Khaled al-Khaibari, in a statement carried by SPA state news agency.

He said airline operators should apply in advance for a permit to travel to the kingdom.