Baghdad: Over 2,056,215 Arbaeen pilgrims have crossed the Mehran international border into Iraq, according to Governor of Ilam Ahmad Karami. In an interview with IRNA, Karami disclosed that in the past 24 hours alone, 219,614 Iranian and foreign pilgrims passed through the Mehran border terminal.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Karami assured that the traffic at the Martyr Haj Qassem Soleimani Terminal is proceeding smoothly. All necessary measures have been implemented to facilitate the pilgrims’ travel, with personnel working tirelessly around the clock.

Karami highlighted that annually, over eight million Iranian and foreign pilgrims use the Mehran border. During last year’s Arbaeen, the border hosted more than 3.5 million pilgrims, underscoring its importance as a major land crossing between Iran and Iraq.

The Mehran international border, situated 85 kilometers southwest of Ilam, remains the most significant and busiest land crossing for pilgrims. Arbaeen is a mourning ritual observed by Shia Muslims globally, marking the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), which falls on September 6 this year. Millions of Shia Muslims travel to Iraq, predominantly from or via Iran, to visit holy shrines in the Arab country.