The meeting, which was hosted by Astan Quds Razavi and chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, included various relevant organizations such as the provincial tourism office, the governor's office, Mashhad municipality, and other related entities.
Speaking in the meeting, Hoj. Mostafa Faqih Esfandiari noted: “Annually, around 2.5 million international pilgrims from various countries visit Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. Arabic-speaking pilgrims are the largest group, followed by Urdu-speaking pilgrims”.
Emphasizing the need to facilitate the pilgrimage for these groups, the Deputy International Affairs mentioned the importance of developing a comprehensive plan to ease their travel to Mashhad, which will lead to an increased presence.
Hoj. Faqih Esfandiari highlighted the cultural and economic significance of international pilgrims visiting Mashhad, stressing that “Actions are needed to support this. The shrine belongs to all devotees of Ahl al-Bayt”.
He also mentioned that many Iranians and compatriots live abroad, and with appropriate planning, Mashhad can become a destination for them to visit the shrine and meet their families.
The official stressed the need for regional meetings in Mashhad, highlighting the city's capacity to host such events due to the presence of Imam Reza shrine.
“The recent ECO meeting held in Mashhad for the first time outside the capital Tehran serves as an example that the shrine is a spiritual base for Iran and can host regional meetings, thereby showcasing the potential of the province and the city”, he stated.
Also, the necessity of holding a meeting with ambassadors from 15 countries sending pilgrims to Imam Reza shrine was emphasized in the meeting.
Hoj. Faqih Esfandiari expressed hope the number of international pilgrims visiting the shrine would increase in the near future.