Tasnim � Head of Iran�s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) deplored hostile attempts to damage Iran�s image and harm its tourism industry through false reports.


Speaking at a conference in Iran�s northeastern city of Mashhad on Sunday night, Ali Asghar Mounesan rejected rumors of Iraqi tourists creating problems in the holy city, saying hostile plots and false media reports arise whenever there is an increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Iran.

With only a few weeks ahead of the Arbaeen pilgrimage season, the same hostile attempts are underway to damage the image of Iranians in the Arab country, he warned.

Arbaeen, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam.

Each year, a huge crowd of Shiites flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.