TEHRAN- Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Mohammad Kazem Al Sadeq, along with the Iraqi Interior Minister, embarked on a visit to the Mehran Border Crossing on Monday. 

The purpose of their visit was to inspect the latest preparations ahead of the Arbaeen pilgrimage, scheduled for August 25th.   

Arba’een marks the anniversary of the 40th day following Ashura, the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram, when Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the third Shia Imam, was martyred at the hands of tyrant Yazid in the seventh century.
 
Millions of ardent lovers, in a demonstration of unfathomable love and devotion for their beloved, walk seamlessly and untiringly from one sacred city to another, day and night, braving inclement weather and ominous security threats.

Men and women, young and old, come from different corners of the world and converge in one place. They call it heaven.

It’s not merely a walk. It is a mark of protest against all forms and manifestations of terrorism, fascism, imperialism, despotism, and oppression perpetuated by state and non-state actors.

It is a rallying cry in support of the oppressed, weak and powerless. It is a reaffirmation of pledge to uphold the principles exemplified by the ‘master of challengers’ in Karbala.

Arbaeen walk takes place from Najaf to Karbala – from the final resting place of the ‘commander of the faithful’ to that of the ‘master of the martyrs’. It is a journey of love. 

The border crossings of Mehran and Chazabeh in the western and southwestern parts of Iran witness an unprecedented high number of Iranian pilgrims every year.

Back on December 12, 2022, Al Sadeq met a number of Iraqi officials including the Iraqi interior minister and discussed a number of issues ranging from border security to energy supplies. 

In his meeting with Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shemmari, Al Sadeq congratulated al-Shemmari for his appointment as the interior minister and thanked the Iraqi government for assisting with successfully holding the Arabaeen ceremony.  

Ambassador Al Sadeq emphasized the need for strict implementation of the security agreement between the two countries, including more precise control of the common borders, the issue of arms smuggling and the extradition of criminals.

Al-Shemmari, while announcing the readiness of his ministry to cooperate with Iran, addressed the common concerns of the two sides in relation to border issues and called the issue of drug entry and arms smuggling among the first priorities of the Iraqi border guard forces.

He added that the infrastructure at the border points has been strengthened and there is complete preparation to carry out border patrol missions.

The Iraqi interior minister also emphasized the need for continuous communication between the border officials of the two countries.

Al Sadeq also met with the Iraqi Planning Minister, Mohammad Ali Tamim. They consulted on strengthening bilateral relations in various fields, including water and electricity and commercial exchanges.

Iraqi media reported at the time that the two parties discussed prospects for joint cooperation between the two neighboring countries in many aspects, including ways to develop relations in economic, security, trade, investment, scientific and cultural fields.

The results of the visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani to Iran also featured at the meeting. Electricity, water, and the measures taken by both sides were also discussed at the meeting. 

The two sides assessed the possibility of developing cooperation in areas of administrative transformation and information technology through establishing administrative systems and electronic government and issuing bank cards, as well as cooperation in the pre-examination of goods and commodities traded between the two countries. 

They addressed the possibility of increasing the volume of commodity exchange and improving the balance of trade exchange on the part of Iraq to achieve parity.