TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Seyed Ali al-Sistani appreciated the efforts made by Tehran Municipality to help serve millions of pilgrims flocking to Karbala for Arbaeen.

In a meeting with Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the senior cleric added that he keeps in his prayers all Iranians assisting in the organization of Arbaeen rituals in Iraq.

Ayatollah Sistani and Qalibaf also discussed the Muslim world’s latest developments during the meeting.

Millions of devoted Shiite Muslims from over 60 countries have converged on the Iraqi holy city of Karbala to hold mourning rituals marking Arbaeen, the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).

Some 2 million Iranians are among the foreign pilgrims who have traveled to Iraq to attend the Arbaeen rituals in Karbala.

Vice mayor of Tehran had earlier said that the city’s municipality would lend the Iraqi holy cities of Karbala and Najaf a hand with the holding of Arbaeen rites

In a meeting with governor of Najaf Javad Hussein al-Yasseri in Tehran on November 1, Mojtaba Abdollahi said that Tehran’s municipality would dispatch more than 2,000 workers to Karbala for municipal services during Arbaeen.

Abdollahi also noted that Iran has made preparations at three western border crossings to facilitate a mass rally of Iranians for Iraq to attend the Arbaeen religious rituals.

By Tasnim News Agency