Iraq says it has trust in Iran's good faith, which has paved the pave for the expansion of bilateral relations in key areas.
“The government in Tehran has always provided strong and sincere support to Baghdad, particularly in time of crisis,” Iraq's Defense Minister Erfan al-Hiyali said during a recent event at Iran's Embassy in Baghdad, IRNA reported on Monday.
The meeting's agenda was to discuss measures to enhance defense and security cooperation ahead of the Arbaeen religious commemoration -- one of the largest annual religious gatherings of the Shia Muslim world – in the neighboring country.
Al-Hiyali said his country will adopt tight security measures and mobilize its resources to ensure the event takes place without any unwanted incident.
The defense ministry will work closely with the interior ministry to coordinate the efforts of military, security and counter-terrorism forces as well as the police and the Popular Mobilization Forces, the official said.
Arbaeen marks the end of a 40-day mourning period following Ashura, the religious ritual that commemorates the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) grandson Imam Hussein in 680.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims from around the world, including Iran, descend on Iraq's holy city of Karbala to pay tribute to the Third Imam. This year the mourning ceremony falls on October 30.
Security is always tight before the annual occasion, during which many pilgrims make a long journey by foot, with armored vehicles, military helicopters, soldiers and ambulances ready to help.
Strong Ties
During the meeting at the embassy, Iraqi Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji welcomed the strong relations between the two neighboring countries, expressing hope that two-way collaboration will ensure security for Arbaeen pilgrims.
Iran's ambassador, Iraj Masjedi, thanked Iraqi officials, especially the defense and interior ministers, for their efforts to help assure the safety of the Karbala pilgrims.
According to official Iraqi data, about 14 million people, including 2 million pilgrims from Iran participated in last year’s Arbaeen mourning ceremonies.
An estimated 4 million Iranians visit Iraq annually and 2.7 million Iraqis travel to Iran for pilgrimage and leisure every year.
