IRNA � The ambassador of Iran in Baghdad said on Saturday that the number of Iranian and non-Iranian pilgrims entering Iraq through Iranian borders is expected to exceed three million until next week.

Iraj Masjedi told IRNA, 'The most recent information shows that the number of pilgrims will witness a 300-thousand increase this year.'

He added, 'Until Thursday, more than one million and seven hundred thousand Iranians had already entered Iraq.'

The entry of Iranians is expected to soar in the coming three days.

Iranian and non-Iranian pilgrims are pouring into Iraq these days to attend Arbaeen mourning ceremonies.

Arbaeen, falling on November 9 this year, is a Shia Muslim religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the third Imam of Shia Muslims.

Each year, millions of pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.