Tehran: Iraq’s Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari has arrived in Iran’s capital, Tehran, to participate in a trilateral meeting on preparations for the Arbaeen annual pilgrimage. Al-Shammari landed in Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on Monday morning, where he was welcomed by his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Mo’meni.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, representatives from Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan are set to hold a meeting later in the day to discuss the upcoming Arbaeen pilgrimage and coordinate preparations for the annual event. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi arrived in Tehran for the meeting on Sunday night.

Arbaeen marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia imam, Imam Hossein. Imam Hossein and his 72 companions were martyred 14 centuries ago by the tyrant of their time, Yazid, on Ashura, which is the tenth day of the lunar month of Muharram. Imam Hossein is laid to rest in Iraq’s city of Karbala, where every year, Muslims from across the world, especially from the region, converge to mark Arbaeen. This year, Arbaeen falls on August 14.