Pakistan, May 26 -- Over 1.5 million Muslims began filling a vast tent city in the holy city of Makkah on Monday for an annual Hajj pilgrimage carried out against the backdrop of hopes for an end to the war in the Middle East.

The white-robed pilgrims on buses or on foot arrived at the sprawling encampment in Mina after performing the "tawaf" - walking seven times around the Kaaba at Makkah's Grand Mosque.

The start of the Hajj came as US President Donald Trump continued to send mixed signals over a possible agreement to extend an uneasy ceasefire with Iran and a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the uncertainty triggered by the conflict, Saudi officials noted over the weekend that more pilgrims had travelled from abroad to ...