By John Lee. Iraq's Higher Committee for Health and National Safety has decided to "ban the entry into Iraq of visitors from all countries". The move is an attempt to combat the coronavirus (Covid-19). This will create problems for religious pilgrims hoping to attend the Shi'ite Muslim gathering of Arbaeen, held in early October, which […]
Baghdad has decided to bar all foreign pilgrims from visiting Iraq for this year's Arbaeen season due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, an Iranian deputy minister said. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Hossein Zolfaqari said he has been informed by Iran's ambassador to Baghdad about the […]
More than three million Iranians have registered to visit the holy cities of Iraq during the Arbaeen season, which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shiite Imam, a senior official said on Saturday. Amir Moradi, the executive manager of a task force charged with handling the Arbaeen […]
The Khosravi border crossing between Iran and Iraq reopened on Friday, more than six years after a terrorist attack led to its closure. In a ceremony on Friday, Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli and his Iraqi counterpart Yassin Al Yasiri reopened the Khosravi border crossing. The border crossing had been closed in 2013 in […]
Iraqi officials said they have successfully carried out a plan to ensure the security of pilgrims converging on the holy city of Najaf, south of Iraq, to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Ali (PBUH). In a statement on Monday, the central Euphrates operations command said the Iraqi security forces have managed to implement a […]
By Padraig O'Hannelly. Our friend and former contributor Robert Tollast has been touring Iraq's religious and archeological sites. Writing in Middle East Eye, he says: "Iraq still gives visitors a sense of having a private viewing of some of the world's wonders, such as the 4,000-year-old ruins of Babylon, and the awe-inspiring Holy Shrines of […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq to expand Karbala shrine for growing number of pilgrims The Iraqi city of Karbala is planning a major expansion of a key religious site to cope with a growing number of pilgrims. […]
Iraq on Monday began issuing entry visa for Iranians free of charge in a reciprocal move under a deal reached three weeks ago. As of Monday, Iranians travelling to Iraq could obtain visa free of charge. The Iraqi cabinet of ministers said the decision that took effect on April 1 has been made as a […]
By John Lee. The General Company for Land Transport (GCLT) has held a meeting with its Saudi Arabian counterpart to discuss the opening of the Arar border crossing between the two countries. According to a statement from Iraq's Ministry of Transport, the participants stressed the importance of the new border facility for commercial trade and […]
By John Lee. Air India has commenced twice-weekly flights between Najaf and Lucknow. Return flights will be operated on Mondays and Thursdays. (Source: Air India)
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the fact that each year, 7 million Iraqis and Iranians visit each other’s country is a sign of the two neighboring countries’ close ties. Speaking at a meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi in Baghdad on Monday, attended by the chairmen of the Iraqi parliamentary factions, Zarif […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. US sanctions have made it too expensive for Iranian Shia Muslims to travel to Iraq to mark Ashoura. Ashoura is a day of remembrance, commemorating the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of […]
