The Islamic republic plans to connect its railroad network to Iraq in a bid to facilitate the movement of pilgrims, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the spokesman for the Iranian administration, said on Dec. 10.
The order to link Iran's railroad network with that of Iraq was issued by President Hassan Rouhani during the cabinet meeting Dec. 10, Nobakht said.
"This project can be beneficial for further communication between the two neighboring countries and the two nations, especially for the pilgrims travelling to the holy city of Karbala," Nobakht was quoted as saying.
Saeed Owhadi, head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, said on Wednesday that the number of Iranian pilgrims who entered Iraq to participate in the mourning rituals on Arbaeen surpassed 1.2 million people, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Arbaeen is a Shiite Muslim religious observance that occurs every year 40 days after the Day of Ashura, the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the third Shiite Imam. Iranian people are taking part in the ceremony in Iraq's holy city of Karbala to commemorate the occasion.
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