Ayat. Ahmad Marvi, the Custodian of Astan Qods Razavi, addressed a recognition ceremony for Hussaini Mukibs on Sunday evening, October 18, attended by more than 300 Iraqi Mukib operators at the Qods Hall of Imam Reza shrine, in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.

Welcoming the Iraqi guests, AQR’s Custodian expressed profound appreciation for their valuable services in hosting pilgrims of Imam Hussain (AS).

He recalled the glorious history of the Iraqi people in championing Islam, Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS), and the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt, highlighting the historic role of this nation in defending the path of truth.

Emphasizing the deep spiritual and historical bonds connecting the peoples of Iran and Iraq, Ayat. Marvi said: "Devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt has enabled both nations, despite the ordeal of the eight-year war, to elevate brotherhood and harmony to their absolute peak following the downfall of Saddam. This is a priceless capacity that the enemies of Islam and the Ahl al-Bayt seek to undermine."

Referring to a meeting held approximately seven years ago between a group of Iraqi Mukib operators and the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the Custodian said, “During that meeting, the martyred Leader expressed his gratitude to you, dear Iraqi Mukib operators, for your valuable services. We had hoped that your visit and pilgrimage to holy Mashhad this year would culminate in a meeting with the new Leader of the Revolution. However, due to security conditions, we were deprived of this opportunity. God willing, during your next visit and pilgrimage, you will have the opportunity to meet the Leader of the Revolution.”

Ayat. Marvi added, “The magnificent network of Mukibs in Iraq is truly an unprecedented phenomenon, not only in the Islamic world but across the globe. People dedicate all their material resources to serving the pilgrims of their master, Imam Hussain, purely for the sake of God, serving them with all their heart and soul.”

Pointing to the historical record of the Iraqi people in upholding Islam and the Ahl al-Bayt, the top official said: "The people of Iraq possess a brilliant background in defending Islam, Guardianship, Imam Ali, and the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt. Prior to Islam, Iraq was part of Sassanid Iran and governed by Iran; yet Iraq was not conquered through military campaigns. Instead, when the Iraqi people heard the message of Islam and the call of the Prophet of Islam, they fell in love with Islam. Iraq was not subjugated through invasion and swords; rather, the message of the grand Prophet conquered the hearts of the Iraqi people. Iraq embraced Islam without any military expedition, and this represents a shining chapter in their history."

Highlighting the era of the caliphate of Imam Ali, Ayat. Marvi said: "The caliphate period of Commander of the Faithful was extremely arduous for him, yet the people of Iraq played a decisive role on the side of truth under his leadership. In the Battle of Siffin, the population that gave weight, power, and glory to his army, enduring nearly eighteen months of battle, was the people of Iraq. Had the Iraqi people not stood within his army, historical evidence indicates that the war would have concluded in favor of Muawiyah within the opening weeks."

Addressing the Iraqi Mukib operators, Ayat. Marvi said: "You, the people of Iraq, possess such glorious chapters in the history of Islam, the history of Commander of the Faithful, and the history of the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt, and this deserves sincere congratulations. Today as well, during Arbaeen, you Iraqi people demonstrate magnificent displays of self-sacrifice, devotion, loyalty to divine authority, hospitality, and deep love for Imam Hussain, which equally deserves admiration and praise."

Turning to relations between Iran and Iraq alongside the eight-year Imposed War, Ayat. Marvi said: "In my assessment, one of America's primary goals in provoking Saddam to attack Iran was to forge a relationship soaked in blood, wrath, and grudge between two Shia peoples and followers of the Ahl al-Bayt. The enemy understood that the alliance of Iran and Iraq—as two powerful countries and two major Shia civilizations endowed with rich history, immense wealth, and courageous, cultured populations—could extinguish America’s presence and hegemony in the region."

He continued: "Through calculated design and planning, the enemy incited Saddam against Iran, imposing an eight-year war backed by American sponsorship to trigger fratricide, intending to prevent the peoples of Iran and Iraq from fostering affection and warmth for centuries. Yet following the fall of Saddam, love and fraternity between the two nations reached such heights that, despite the prolonged war fought between them years earlier, grudges were completely set aside."

Underscoring the centrality of devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt, Ayat. Marvi said: "This is all due to the blessing of the Ahl al-Bayt, dear brothers; the wonder of the matter lies precisely here. We possess such an asset—a peerless and irreplaceable asset that nothing can substitute. Devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt drew us so close and kind toward one another, forging us into a single nation."

Recalling the turnout of the Iraqi people during the funeral procession of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayat. Marvi said: "The glorious epic created by the Iraqi people in the funeral procession of the grand martyred Leader astonished the entire world. Never before has the leader of one nation been laid to rest in another country with such magnificence, majesty, popular turnout, and eagerness. Nowhere else on earth does such a precedent exist, where a leader's funeral in another nation is conducted with such overwhelming, massive public participation."

Reaffirming the common bond, Ayat. Marvi said: "This belongs uniquely to Iran and Iraq; the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt eradicated geographic boundaries between us. We possess no geographic borders, we possess no political boundaries; we have the Ahl al-Bayt, and we have our love for the Ahl al-Bayt. Naturally, the massive turnout, welcoming embrace, and multi-million-strong participation of the Iraqi people in honoring Iran’s grand martyred Leader remain intolerable and unacceptable to our enemies, who continuously scheme to shatter this unity."

Praising the Iraqi people, the supreme religious authority in Iraq—particularly Ayatollah Sistani—as well as scholars, tribes, and tribal leaders, Ayat. Marvi cautioned against enemy plots aimed at harming bilateral ties. Congratulating the Iraqi people on the removal of foreign forces from their homeland, he said: "Dear Iraq, this clean, heroic land and sanctuary of love for the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt, has been purged of the presence of American terrorists, which deserves heartfelt congratulations."

The Custodian of Astan Qods Razavi added: "While Americans may no longer maintain an overt military presence in Iraq, they will never relent. They will strive relentlessly to orchestrate divisions through mainstream media, cyberspace, and compromised proxies inside Iran, Iraq, and elsewhere. The unity of these two great, influential nations in the region is intolerable to America. They cannot stomach this solidarity and are actively plotting against it, seeking to drive a wedge between the Iraqi and Iranian peoples via propaganda, media channels, and infiltrated mercenaries."

Emphasizing vigilance against divisive factions, Ayat. Marvi said: "Any call, voice, utterance, message, or written text that fosters mistrust, discord, and division between these two nations—be entirely certain, dear brothers—bears the hand of America behind it. That pen is the pen of America; that voice is the voice of America; those words are the words of America."

Stressing the imperative to preserve solidarity, Ayat. Marvi concluded: "We must preserve our unity and solidarity, which praise be to God have reached their peak today. This harmony and unity displayed by Iranian and Iraqi Mukibs stands as a true symbol of this brotherhood. The presence of Iranian Mukibs during Arbaeen and various commemorations—including the martyrdom anniversaries of Imam Jawad and Imam Hassan al-Askari in Samarra, Kadhimiya, Karbala, and Najaf—is exceptionally valuable. May God Almighty render this solidarity, unity, mutual understanding and goodwill existing between both nations firmer, deeper, and more formidable with each passing day."

Keywords: Astan Qods Razavi (AQR), Imam Reza Shrine, Ayat. Ahmad Marvi, Iraqi Mukibs, Iran-Iraq solidarity