Four Border Crossings Available to Arbaeen Pilgrims: Iranian Minister
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said passport holders planning to visit Iraq for Arbaeen season can choose from four border crossings to make the pilgrimage.
Speaking to reporters in the northern city of Zanjan on Monday, Rahmani Fazli said four border crossings have been prepared for the Arbaeen season, during which a huge crowd of people visit Iraq to pay tribute to Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shiite Imam.
The minister also emphasized that full security prevails along Iran’s borders, saying Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has issued orders to allocate credits from the National Development Fund for enhancing border security.
Earlier this month, Rahmani Fazli and his Iraqi counterpart Yassin Al Yasiri signed an agreement in Tehran to reopen the Khosravi border crossing and remove visa restrictions for Iranian Arbaeen pilgrims.
Iran and Iraq also agreed to raise the level of services and facilities for the pilgrims and enhance border security during the Arbaeen season, which will culminate in a large gathering in Karbala on October 19.
Arbaeen, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shiites flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.