Financial Tribune - Thousands of Iranian pilgrims are getting ready to travel to Iraq in the coming weeks for the Arbaeen commemorations�one of the largest annual gatherings of Muslims in the world, which falls on Oct. 19 this year.

Accordingly, preparations have been made for road and air transportation of pilgrims.

�The transportation of pilgrims will commence on Oct. 9 and run through Oct. 25, while Oct. 16 to Oct. 21 will be the peak days,� Mehran Qorbani, the deputy head of Iran Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, said.

The pilgrims will pass through the four border terminals of Chazzabeh and Shalamcheh in Khuzestan Province, Khosravi in Kermanshah Province and Mehran in Ilam Province to travel to and return from Iraq, the official was quoted as saying by the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development's news service.