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Iranian interior minister, Iraqi PM discuss bilateral ties, Arbaeen walk in Baghdad

Thursday, 08 September 2022 5:27 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 08 September 2022 5:50 PM ]

Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi (5th left) is seen at a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi (center) in the capital, Baghdad, on September 8, 2022. (Photo by Fars news agency)

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi have discussed the expansion of relations between the two neighboring countries and ways to facilitate the Arbaeen walk.

In a meeting in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Thursday, the two senior officials exchanged views on ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and support for joint coordination in areas that benefit the two countries.

Vahidi and Kadhimi also talked about the Iraqi government’s efforts to facilitate the arrival of Iranian pilgrims as well as their organization and accommodation for Arbaeen, which commemorates the 40th day after Ashura, the day Imam Hussain (PBUH) and his companions were martyred in Karbala in 680 AD.

Every year on Arbaeen, millions of people from around the world flock to Karbala to take part in the largest annual Islamic gathering, with large groups of mourners traveling on foot toward the holy city. The ceremony falls on September 17 this year.

Imam Hussein (AS) and his 72 companions were martyred in the Battle of Karbala in southern Iraq in 680 AD after fighting courageously for justice against the much larger army of the Umayyad caliph, Yazid I.

Iranians gear up for annual Arbaeen rituals

Arbaeen is a longstanding tradition in Islam, which marks the fortieth day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad. Days ahead of the occasion, people in Tehran have gathered en masse to commemorate Imam Hussein.

During the Thursday meeting, the two sides also discussed Kadhimi’s efforts to curb the current political crisis in Iraq through the “National Dialogue” initiative in order to find solutions that guarantee the stability and security of Iraq.

For his part, Vahidi conveyed the greetings of Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi to Kadhimi and underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation between Iran and Iraq in all fields.

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