“Today, the greatest sin is to create division among Muslim,” Ayatollah Jannati told worshippers in Tehran.

The Tehran Friday prayer leader also condemned violence against Yemeni Muslims, singling out Saudi Arabia for its massive attacks on the Houthi community inside the Yemeni territory.

“Those who are hosting Muslims in Mecca… are helping this country (Yemen) in killing innocent women and children,” the cleric lamented.

The Houthis belong to the minority Zaidi sect of Shiism, and complain of social, economic and religious marginalization by the Yemeni government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.