Iraq Closes Mehran Border Due to High Number of Pilgrims

Officials from the Islamic Republic announced that due to the high number of Iranian pilgrims "without visas" at the Mehran border and the closure of the route to Karbala, the Iraqi government has closed this border with a concrete wall since Thursday morning. Meanwhile, Hossein Polarak, head of the Iranian Reconstruction Headquarters of "Atabat Aliaat," reported on Thursday that over two million Iranian pilgrims have entered Iraq through the three borders of Mehran, Shalamcheh, and Chazabeh. According to the news agency Mizan, Hossein Zolfaqari, head of the Central Arbaeen Headquarters and Deputy Minister of Interior, stated that the "increase in visa-less individuals" at the Mehran border caused its closure. Qassem Rezaei, commander of Iran's border guards, also announced that due to the "heavy traffic" at the Mehran border, the Iraqi government closed this border with a concrete wall on Thursday morning. According to Mr. Rezaei, due to the crowding in the cities of Kut and Badrah in Iraq, it is not possible for pilgrims to move towards Karbala, and some pilgrims have been returned to Iran by more than 30 buses. Based on the announcement from the Ilam province officials, the Mehran border is the first choice for pilgrims attending the Arbaeen ceremony due to its proximity to Karbala, and by Thursday, "more than one million people" had crossed this border. Islamic Republic officials have asked pilgrims stranded at the Mehran border to travel to Iraq through the Shalamcheh and Chazabeh borders. Last year, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior criticized Iranian officials for the influx of Iranian pilgrims without visas at one of the borders, clashes with border guards, and damaging border barriers, and Iranian officials also closed the Mehran border "due to disorder." At that time, a local Iraqi official told Reuters that the number of Iranians illegally entering the country through the Zarbatiyeh Mehran border had exceeded "half a million." Meanwhile, Islamic Republic officials have repeatedly warned in recent weeks about traveling without visas to participate in the Arbaeen ceremony, and reports indicate that dozens of Iranians have been arrested for traveling to Iraq without visas and passports. Some political analysts have referred to the Arbaeen ceremony as a "show of power" by the Islamic Republic. In recent years, this ceremony has been a scene of millions of Shia pilgrims from various countries, and last year, on the eve of Arbaeen, the Iranian Ministry of Interior announced that over one million and 250 thousand visas had been issued for Iranian pilgrims wishing to attend this ceremony. Meanwhile, Hossein Polarak reported that over two million Iranian pilgrims have entered Iraq through the three borders of Mehran, Shalamcheh, and Chazabeh. He also predicted that a total of 25 million people from various countries would participate in this year's Arbaeen ceremony. Islamic Republic officials have announced that Afghan nationals residing in Iran can also travel to Iraq to participate in the Arbaeen ceremony. Meanwhile, the IRNA news agency published images of Afghan nationals at the Mehran border, stating that they are not allowed to cross this border for the Arbaeen ceremony and must travel to Iraq through the Chazabeh border in Khuzestan province. Several Islamic Republic officials, including Mahmoud Alavi, Minister of Intelligence, Hossein Salami, Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Elham Aminzadeh, Special Assistant to the President, have been present among the pilgrims at the three borders of Iran. In recent weeks, some organizations in Iran have reported providing facilities to Arbaeen pilgrims. According to Tehran municipality officials, sending three thousand trash bins to Iraq, transferring two thousand municipal staff to work in pilgrimage cities in Iraq, constructing about 200 toilets in Iranian border cities, and transporting pilgrims with 700 buses are among the actions this organization will take during this year's Arbaeen. Gholamali Niyastani, CEO of the Iranian Student Welfare Fund, also reported on Monday, November 10, that a one million toman loan would be provided to students participating in the Arbaeen pilgrimage. In this context, a bus overturning on the way to Karbala claimed the lives of 26 Iranian pilgrims. On the eve of Arbaeen, dozens of Iranians were arrested in Iraq without "valid" passports. The lawyer for Saeed Mortazavi stated: My client was not banned from leaving, so he could travel. Naser Makarem Shirazi declared traveling without a visa to Iraq as "haram."