Iran's death toll from the Saudi hajj disaster has nearly doubled to 464 pilgrims killed, state media reported Thursday, a development that is likely to further strain ties between the Mideast rivals.<br />It wasn't immediately clear how the rise in the Islamic Republic's death toll, based on a hajj department statement posted on the website of Iranian state television, would affect the overall toll from the Sept. 24 disaster near Islam's holy city of Mecca.<br />Saudi Arabia's Healthy Ministry reported Saturday that the crush and stampede killed at least 769 pilgrims and injured 934.<br />Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Iran all have said the toll may be higher.<br />Saeed Ohadi, the head of Iran's hajj department, later told state television that Iranian officials are trying to return bodies of Iranian pilgrims "as soon as possible."<br />He said Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed not to bury any of the dead in Saudi Arabia without prior permission by Iran or the families of the deceased.
