According to the Public Relations Department, the ninth meeting of the International Affairs Working Group of the Committee of Representatives of Iran’s Holy Shrines and Sacred Sites was held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, hosted by the Holy Mosque of Jamkaran.
The meeting was attended by Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Dr. Meysam Ahmadi, Deputy for International Affairs of the Leader’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Mission, as well as representatives of Astan Quds Razavi, the Holy Shrine of Lady Fatima Masumeh (peace be upon her), the Holy Shrine of Ahmad ibn Musa al-Kadhim (peace be upon him) in Shiraz, the Holy Mosque of Jamkaran, the Holy Shrine of Hazrat Abdol-Azim al-Hasani (peace be upon him), and the Endowment and Charity Organization of Iran.
At the beginning of the meeting, reports were presented on the measures taken pursuant to the resolutions of the previous session, including activities related to the Arbaeen symposium and the joint Muharram webinar. The participants also discussed ways to further develop international cooperation among the holy shrines. The first issue of the “Ziyarat” news bulletin, along with proposals for joint media production and dissemination, was also reviewed.
Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Ajaghnejad, Custodian of the Holy Mosque of Jamkaran, attended the meeting and emphasized the vast potential of the holy shrines in the international arena and the need to utilize these capacities to establish more effective communication with international pilgrims. Referring to the significance of Arbaeen and its spiritual and cultural dimensions, he also highlighted the international potential of the Holy Mosque of Jamkaran in promoting the concepts of Mahdism and Awaiting.
The members of the working group subsequently presented their views and proposals concerning joint international programs, the expansion of online meetings, and stronger media coordination among the holy shrines.
Expanding Joint Media Production and the “Ziyarat” News Bulletin
According to the resolutions adopted at the meeting, it was decided that announcements concerning joint online meetings of the holy shrines would be coordinated through the working group’s secretariat, enabling the shrines to simultaneously publish information about these meetings on their respective websites. The host shrine was also given responsibility for coordinating the participation of the different shrines in introducing speakers and organizing the meetings.
The publication of two completed videocasts, providing the holy shrines with a common format for media productions, and encouraging each shrine to produce content related to Arbaeen and other religious occasions were among the other resolutions. It was also decided that international productions by each of the holy shrines would be submitted to the secretariat so that the Media Working Group could facilitate their publication and wider dissemination.
Another resolution concerned the completion of the first issue of the “Ziyarat” news bulletin. Members were requested to submit news concerning the international activities of their respective shrines by October 7, 2026. They were also asked to submit news reports accompanied by brief analytical reports by December 6, 2026, in order to prepare the second issue of the bulletin.
Proposals for International Programs Focusing on the Thought of the Martyr Leader
At the final stage of the meeting, four proposals were put forward for presentation to the Assembly of the Holy Shrines concerning the commemoration of the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Martyr Leader and the presentation of his thoughts.
The proposals included organizing a special international lecture at each holy shrine, providing an opportunity for international pilgrims to freely express their views, launching pilgrimage and spiritual campaigns on behalf of international audiences, and holding a joint international meeting focusing on his thought and perspectives.
It was also decided that the proposal to place relations with the Iraqi holy shrines under the independent responsibility of the International Affairs Working Group would be presented and pursued at the upcoming Assembly.
The meeting was held with the aim of creating greater synergy among the cultural, religious, and media capacities of Iran’s holy shrines and sacred sites and strengthening their international presence and engagement.
