Iran, Iraq interior ministers discuss efforts to facilitate Arba'een pilgrimage

Iran’s interior minister held talks with his Iraqi counterpart on boosting coordination between the two countries to facilitate the Arba'een pilgrimage.

According to Tasnim news agency, in their meeting in Baghdad on Thursday, Ahmad Vahidi and Othman Al-Ghanmi exchanged views of ways to serve Arba'een pilgrims and remove problems they are facing in border crossings between the two countries.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, 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.

Amir-Abdollahian 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 Arba'een 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 Arba'een 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 (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), Imam Hussein (PBUH).

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

Arba'een will fall on September 17 this year.

ME