Millions of Shiite Muslims gathered in the Iraqi city of Karbala on Tuesday to observe the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage amid heightened regional tensions stemming from the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. The event, which marks 40 days after Ashoura—the commemoration of the 680 A.D. killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad, along with members of his family—is recognized as one of the largest religious gatherings worldwide.

Karbala Governor Nasseif Jassim al-Khattabi reported that over 22 million people entered the city during the pilgrimage period, including approximately 5 million visitors from outside Iraq, alongside Iraqi participants from various regions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attended the ceremony, arriving first in the nearby city of Najaf on Monday before proceeding to Karbala. His participation highlighted Iraq’s precarious position as it balances ties with both Washington and Tehran amid the broader U.S.-Iran conflict.

While Iranian pilgrims were present in substantial numbers, observers noted a decline in attendance from other countries. Aqeel al-Rubaie, a pilgrim from Baghdad, remarked that Iranian flags were prominently displayed along the Najaf-Karbala road, whereas symbols from European, Arab, and additional Islamic countries were less visible than in previous years. Another pilgrim, Hassan al-Sarai, also from Baghdad, confirmed the predominance of Iranian flags both on the road and within Karbala itself. Analysts suggest that the ongoing war and related regional developments have contributed to a reduction in foreign pilgrim participation.

Along the pilgrim routes, volunteer groups offered essential services such as food, water, and medical assistance. The pilgrimage this year occurs against a backdrop of economic challenges for Iraq, which relies on oil exports for over 90 percent of its state revenue. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted these exports, exacerbating financial difficulties in the aftermath of the conflict.

In addition to economic and security concerns, Baghdad is grappling with its stated objective of disarming militias within the country, many of which receive backing from Iran. Kataib Hezbollah, among the most powerful of these groups, released a statement during Arbaeen reaffirming its rejection of disarmament calls and its commitment to maintaining its arsenal, which it describes as “weapons of the resistance.”

Meanwhile, in Iran, many Shiites who were unable to attend the pilgrimage in Karbala observed Arbaeen with local ceremonies, some taking on explicit political dimensions. In Tehran, mourners dressed in black processed along a nearly 20-kilometer route toward a Shiite shrine in the southern part of the city, chanting slogans calling for retaliation following strikes attributed to the United States and Israel that targeted individuals close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Reports from Iranian state media indicated that similar demonstrations were held in multiple cities and towns, with some participants desecrating U.S. and Israeli flags.