Iran, Iraq Interior Ministers Discuss Efforts to Facilitate Arbaeen Pilgrimage

In their meeting in Baghdad on Thursday, Vahidi and the Iraqi interior minister exchanged views of ways to serve Arbaeen pilgrims and remove problems they are facing in border crossings between the two countries.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, in a phone conversation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, expressed gratitude and appreciation for the generous hospitality of the Iraqi government and people to the pilgrims.

Amirabdollahian called for further arrangements and coordination for the arrival of Iranian pilgrims via land and air routes and also for facilitation of entry of Afghan and Pakistani nationals through Iran’s borders.

The Iraqi top diplomat promised in the telephone conversation to follow up on the affairs of the Arbaeen pilgrims, saying the presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s interior minister in Baghdad on Thursday is a good opportunity to closely check the affairs and make the necessary coordination in this regard.

The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS).

Each year during the Arbaeen season, pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.

Arbaeen will fall on September 17 this year.