Iran Press/Middle East: Eshaq Jahangiri, Iranian First Vice President who traveled to the Iraqi city of Najaf to take part in the massive march of Arbaeen, and oversee providing services to pilgrims in a phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi appreciated Iraqi government and people for hosting Arbaeen rituals.
Expressing Iran’s readiness for solving Arbaeen pilgrims’ problems, he said regional governments are responsible for serving pilgrims, Iran Press reported.
Meanwhile, Abdul-Mahdi stressed the importance of Arbaeen processions and unity among Muslims states in the region.
Jahangiri also conveyed greeting to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and underlined extensive planning for reinforcing relations.
Earlier Iranian VP, in a meeting with the governor of Najaf, appreciated the grand religious authorities (Marja) of Najaf and Iraqi nation in hosting more than 3 million Iranian pilgrims, saying, "Hosting such a huge number of pilgrims is difficult because of shortcomings in infrastructure and the Iranian government and people genuinely appreciate the generous hospitality of the Iraqi people to Imam Hussein's (PBUH) and Arbaeen pilgrims."
Arbaeen marks the 40th day of martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH) and 72 of his companions in 680 AD in a land known today as Iraq after they refused to pledge allegiance to the tyrant Yazid.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias march toward Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (PBUH) is located, to perform mourning rites marking Arbaeen.
Over 20 million pilgrims from around the world, including a record number of Iranians, have entered the holy Iraqi city of Karbala to observe Arbaeen rites.
A total of 3.5 million Iranians had entered Iraq to take part in the ceremony, 1.2 million more than the number reported last year and topping previous records. 101/211/205
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Iran's VP appreciates the Iraqi nation for hosting Arbaeen pilgrims
