Brimming with passion, devotion
Over five million pilgrims cross Iran-Iraq border for Arbaeen
More than 5.4 million Iranian pilgrims have crossed the country’s borders en route to the Arbaeen religious procession in Iraq since July 26, police and government officials reported on Tuesday.
According to Colonel Ahmad Karami-Asad, head of the traffic police, the number of pilgrims moving through six official border crossings has steadily increased amid efforts to streamline the flow and enhance safety, inn.ir reported.
Arbaeen, a major Shia Muslim event commemorating the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH), draws millions annually to the holy city of Karbala in Iraq.
The massive movement marks one of the largest annual religious gatherings worldwide, with Iranian authorities closely monitoring border traffic and road safety. Despite the surge in crossings, fatal accidents linked to the pilgrimage have dropped compared to last year, though officials emphasize ongoing risks, particularly during nighttime hours.
Colonel Karami-Asad said that from July 26 through the morning of August 12, 125 deaths and 2,917 injuries related to traffic accidents were recorded across five border provinces. “More than 90 percent” of these incidents stemmed from driver errors such as inattention, loss of vehicle control, sudden lane changes, and improper overtaking. Still, this represents a reduction compared to the previous year’s figures.
According to official statistics, a total of 3.4 million pilgrims have exited Iran, while about 2 million have returned as of August 12. Nearly 44% of the departing pilgrims crossed through the Mehran border, with others using Shalamcheh, Khosravi, Chazabeh, Tamarchin, and Bashmaq checkpoints.
Traffic flow patterns have shifted recently, with the share of exits via Mehran and Shalamcheh declining in favor of Khosravi, Chazabeh, and air travel routes.
Authorities expect daily returnee numbers to reach 350,000 to 400,000 by week’s end, highlighting the peak of the homebound wave.
The total vehicle movements over the 17-day period amounted to 58 million, slightly down from last year. Bus traffic fell by 13 percent, while private cars and light trucks increased by about 5 percent. Vehicle congestion at border crossings has eased in the last two days; about 13,000 vehicles cleared the Mehran crossing and 4,000 vehicles exited Khosravi in the past 24 hours.
Also, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited the Khosravi border on Tuesday to oversee operations and meet officials. He confirmed that more than half a million pilgrims have passed through Khosravi this season, twice the volume recorded last year. “Thanks to close coordination with Iraqi authorities and the implementation of the Sajjad system, traffic flow has become smoother and delays minimized,” Momeni said.
He also emphasized that all six official border crossings are fully secured by police, military, and border forces, with no major security incidents reported. Momeni praised the efforts of ministries, municipalities, volunteer groups, and local communities for their support in ensuring pilgrims travel with safety and dignity.