Millions Mark Arbaeen in Iraq and Iran
WANA (AUG 14) – Today marks Arbaeen in the Shia Muslim calendar. For several days leading up to this date, millions of Muslims from around the world travel to Iraq, where they walk a route culminating in the holy city of Karbala to take part in what is considered the most significant annual Islamic gathering.
The Arbaeen pilgrimage is held every year, forty days after the killing of Imam Hussein — the third Shia Imam — who, according to Shia belief, was martyred by Yazid, seen as the symbol of tyranny in his time.
During Saddam Hussein’s rule, holding the Arbaeen pilgrimage was banned for Shias, but after the fall of the Ba’ath regime, Shia communities worldwide revived the tradition.
Iranian people walk and pass through the Israeli flag as they commemorate Arbaeen in Tehran, Iran, August 14, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency
Each year, several million Iranians take part in the event. Many other Iranian devotees, unable to travel to Karbala, mark the occasion at home by walking long distances in their cities as a sign of respect and mourning.
In Tehran this year, tens of thousands of “left-behind” pilgrims walked the 14-kilometer route from Imam Hussein Square to the shrine of Abdul Azim, holding mourning ceremonies for the martyrs of Karbala.
Iran’s Missile Power Symbol at Arbaeen
WANA (Aug 12) – Thousands of hands along the dusty roads leading to Karbala move in unison—wrists bending, arms stretching forward, as if launching a missile. This gesture has emerged not only among Arbaeen pilgrims but also across social media as a new symbol of this year’s millions-strong religious march—one that praises Iran’s missile power […]
At this year’s gathering, images of those killed in the recent Israeli attack (12-day war) on Iran were widely displayed. Participants paid tribute to the victims of the Israeli strike, likening the rulers of Tel Aviv to Yazid — the tyrannical ruler of Imam Hussein’s era — and expressing the belief that the destruction of Zionism is the only solution to the problems of the West Asia region.
A 50-year-old employee from Tehran, in response to WANA’s question about how Tehran would respond if Israel attacked Iran again, said: “Our response will undoubtedly be much more forceful, and it will lead to the elimination of Israel from the face of the earth. He described Netanyahu’s recent video message about Iran’s water problems and offering aid to Iranians as an attempt to create “fear” among the Iranian people.
Iranian people walk as they commemorate Arbaeen in Tehran, Iran, August 14, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Placing the Israeli flag under their shoes was meant to demonstrate the depth of their hatred toward Israel. The ceremony also saw participants trampling on the U.S. flag. Iranians continue to believe that the United States is Israel’s main partner in the surprise attack on Iran and that all of Israel’s actions in Gaza are carried out with Washington’s approval.
