Tehran – The Iranian Port and Maritime Organization (PMO) has officially launched the Khorramshahr-Basra passenger route to promote the transport of Albaini pilgrims through the Persian Gulf.
Saidrasoli, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and PMO Managing Director, announced that the first journey to Basra Port, Iraq, has begun on Friday, August 1, 2025.
The 17 nautical miles route is the shortest sea corridor for pilgrims heading to Iraq’s Holy Shrine, and was revitalized to strengthen bipolar ties and improve pilgrimage infrastructure.
Rasouli said the service has resumed for the second consecutive year after high-level meetings with Iraqi counterparts and coordinated over the past few months.
With 235-seater capacity and advanced onboard amenities, a civilian ship runs on the route to ensure a safe and comfortable journey.
He added that if passenger demand is high, services could be extended to annual operations beyond the Albain season, while the number of daily voyages could increase during the peak of the pilgrimage period.
The move is in line with the PMO’s broader policies to promote maritime tourism and strengthen local passenger transport links.
One of the world’s largest religious gatherings, Albain marks the end of a 40-day period of mourning that continued the martial teaching of Imam Hussein (AS) and his fellow martials at the Battle of Karbara in 680 AD.
Every year, millions of Shia Muslims around the world embark on this pilgrimage on Kalbara, walking hundreds of kilometers as an expression of their faith and devotion.
KD