Terrorists Seeking to Harm Arbaeen Pilgrims Arrested in SW Iran
Speaking during a visit to the Shalamcheh border crossing in the province, Seyed Mahmoud Alavi said 15 terrorists have been arrested over the past few days.
They had intended to carry out suicide attacks targeting the pilgrims, he added.
Alavi also underlined his ministry’s full readiness to counter all of those who attempt to carry out acts of terrorism.
Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
Iranian pilgrims traveling to Iraq by land can choose from three border crossings, Shalamcheh, Chazzabeh and Mehran.
Arbaeen falls on October 30 this year.
