Commander of Iran’s Border Police Brigadier General Ali Akbar Javidan said on Thursday that over 1.7 million Arbaeen pilgrims have departed the country through various border crossings as of today.

He said the flow of outbound pilgrims is expected to continue in the days leading up to Arbaeen, adding that the main wave of departures is forecast to continue until Monday, August 3.

According to Javidan, the return of pilgrims is expected to begin from Monday evening or Tuesday, coinciding with the day of Arbaeen.

The commander advised pilgrims to better manage their travel schedules and avoid rushing back immediately after the ceremonies.

He noted that extending their stay at the holy shrines in Iraq and postponing their return to the days following Arbaeen would help ease congestion at border crossings and ensure smoother travel for everyone.

Every year, millions of pilgrims from Iran and across the world travel to Iraq to commemorate Arbaeen, marking the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shiite Imam. The pilgrimage, centered on the holy city of Karbala, is regarded as one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world.