Religion

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in his annual message to Hajj pilgrims, has called on Muslims across the world to forge unity as a symbol of the spiritual pilgrimage.

The spokesman for the Iranian government has said Iran and Iraq have agreed to increase the number of visits of the pilgrims of the two countries.

The Iraqi government says the country will be open to up to 50,000 Iranian pilgrims in the shrine city of Karbala for Arafat Day, which falls on July 09 this year.

Iran’s embassy in Baghdad says the land borders with Iraq has been opened to pilgrims seeking to take part in the Day of Arafat ceremonies at the holy shrines of the country.

Iran’s Hajj headquarters in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, says 30,776 Iranian pilgrims have so far arrived in the country for the major annual pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia has drawn harsh criticism for depriving pilgrims from neighboring Yemen of embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage for the eighth consecutive year.

Iraq has made good on its promise to let Iranian pilgrims enter the country visa-free through the land border between the two countries.

With Covid-related restrictions eased worldwide, up to five million Iranian pilgrims are expected to visit Iraq later this year to join the massive march of Arba’een, which marks the 40th day after the anniversary of the third Shia Imam’s martyrdom, an official says.

The first group of Iranian Hajj pilgrims has headed to Saudi Arabia to perform the Islamic rituals.

The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei received a host of officials in charge of the Hajj pilgrimage on Wednesday in Tehran.

Iraqi Interior Minister Othman al-Qanemi says Baghdad has agreed to let 2 thousand Iranian pilgrims enter Iraq visa-free through ground border crossings. Qanemi was speaking in Tehran on Tuesday where he met with his Iranian counterpart Ahmad Vahidi.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Director General for South Asia has summoned the Indian ambassador to protest on behalf of Iran’s government and people an insult by a TV program in India to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

A senior Iranian cleric has relayed a message from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, praising the pontiff for his efforts to support the oppressed nations and bring Islam and Christianity closer.

The Iranian foreign ministry will reportedly send a delegation to the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage this year as part of its mission to protect Iranian nationals and their rights across the world.

Iran Air will begin Hajj flights on June 12 to take Iranian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia after a two-year hiatus, an official with the airline announced.

People have held a funeral in Tehran for a member of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps who was assassinated on Sunday by two attackers in the Iranian capital.

A ceremony to bid farewell to Hassan Sayyd Khodaee, who was assassinated outside his home in Tehran on Sunday, has been held at Meraj Shohada section of Behesht-e Zahra cemetery with the presence of his family members and mourners.

The leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has offered condolences over the passing of Iranian Shia Muslim cleric Hojatoleslam Seyyed Abdollah Fateminia to his family and all those who followed and loved him.

Iranian Parliament Speaker congratulated his counterparts in Islamic countries and Muslims around the world on the auspicious occasion of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of fasting month of Ramadan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has sent separate messages to his counterparts from Islamic countries, congratulating them on Eid al-Fitr.

Millions of the faithful Iranians have marked Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramdan and its month-long fasting, with Eid congregational prayers across the country.

Iranian President Erbrahim Raisi has congratulated leaders and people of Islamic countries on Eid al-Fitr.

The office of the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has declared Tuesday as Eid al-Fitr.

Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi says people still cannot travel between Iran and Iraq through land borders without visas.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN) has strongly condemned the latest Israeli desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque and warned Tel Aviv of the consequences of its actions. He stressed that the holy site must be protected under international law.