The formation of Imam Reza working group in the Foreign Ministry has paved the way for easier pilgrimage to Imam Reza shrine in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad for non-Iranian pilgrims.

In a meeting of officials from Foreign Ministry, Imam Reza shrine and Khorasan Razavi Provincial Government, the Deputy Custodian of the shrine, Mostafa Feizi talked about the annual pilgrimage to millions of Muslims and non-Muslims from across the world to the shrine in Mashhad.

“Although millions of non-Iranians visit the shrine each year, there is a potential to attract even more, and we need to plan for that”, added Feizi.

He continued that the meeting between the custodian and Iran’s Foreign Minister resulted in the formation of a working group in the ministry to facilitate pilgrimage for non-Iranian pilgrims, mostly Shia Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Arab countries.

Stressing on the necessity to remove the obstacles in the way of non-Iranian pilgrims, Feizi continued: “I suggest that the shrine should host a meeting between the Foreign Minister and Consul Generals in these countries in the shrine so that the questions and problems can be directly addressed”.

The deputy custodian concluded that a profound change was needed in pilgrimage, which could be reached via a synergy among national and provincial officials.