Iran's police chief says more than 1.2 million pilgrims have now crossed the Arbaeen border points

Iran's police chief said on Sunday 26 July 2026 that more than 1.2 million pilgrims have so far crossed the border points used for the Arbaeen pilgrimage. It is the latest official count of border traffic and follows the announcement that more than 2 million pilgrims have registered in the Samah system.

Moving several million travellers in a short window is one of the heaviest annual loads on Iran's road transport, fuel distribution and border currency services. The western crossings carry the bulk of the traffic during this period, and the national weather service has forecast temperatures approaching 50 degrees Celsius at the Mehran crossing in the coming days.