Iranian qari Younis Shahmradi was declared the winner of the Quran recitation competition Otr Elkalam in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

Shahmradi was awarded Saudi Riyal 3 million for winning the competition. THe award for best azan went to Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Sharif who was awarded SAR2 million.

Moroccan reciter Younes Gharbi had won the recitation award last year and Mohsen Kara from Turkey had won the azan competition. Both were recalled to open this year’s episode in which winners were declared.

The competition was organised by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority in collaboration with the Muslim World League.

Over 50,000 contestants from 165 countries participated in the initial qualifiers for the competition which was narrowed down to 50 contestants who participated in the final competition.

The competition also made six world records: most participants in azan and rectiation competitions, most countries participating in boht competitions and most prize money in both competitions.

The winner of an Iranian contestant comes amid reports that tensions among Iran and Saudi Arabia are finally receding after years.