Saudi Arabia, under growing pressure to account for a crush that killed more than 700 people at the haj pilgrimage,yesterday suggested pilgrims failing to follow crowd control rules bore some blame for the worst disaster at the event for 25 years.

The kingdom’s regional rival Iran expressed outrage at the deaths of 131 of its nationals at the world’s largest annual gathering of people, and politicians in Tehran suggested Riyadh was incapable of managing the event. “Death to the Saudi dynasty,” hundreds of demonstrators chanted in the Iranian capital Tehran at a protest against the disaster, according to a live Iranian state TV broadcast.

In a statement posted on his ministry's website, Saudi Health Minister Khalid al-Falih said an investigation would be conducted rapidly and a final toll of dead and wounded calculated. At least 863 pilgrims were injured.

Falih’s comments were likely to be seen by the kingdom’s critics as an attempt to deflect responsibility for the incident.

Safety during haj is politically sensitive for the kingdom's Al Saud dynasty, since the ruling family presents itself internationally as the guardian of orthodox Islam and custodian of its holiest places in Mecca and Medina.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani was also highly critical of the Saudis.