8th Session of Iran’s Holy Shrines Custodianship Concludes with Nine-Point Statement

Hawzah News Agency- The gathering was held at the Holy Jamkaran Mosque, adjacent to the shrine of Hazrat Fatima Masoumeh (PBUH), and attended by custodians of the country’s principal holy sites as well as representatives of the Supreme Leader in endowments and pilgrimage affairs.

The final communiqué stressed the following key points:

1. Honoring the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
   The statement highlights the essential role of Iran’s holy shrines in preserving monotheistic faith, strengthening Quranic and prophetic teachings, and safeguarding the religious and civilizational identity of the Islamic nation.
2. Institutionalizing pilgrimage in education:
   Participants emphasized the need to integrate pilgrimage-related teachings into national textbooks and curricula at all educational levels.
3. Promotion of Mahdism:
   The communiqué underscores efforts to deepen the culture of Mahdism and strengthen the spirit of expectation, stressing the shrines’ responsibility to foster hope and public engagement.
4. Government responsibility in pilgrimage affairs:
   The session called for an active role by the Iranian government in managing pilgrimage-related issues as part of broader cultural and social development.
5. International cultural presence:
   Holy shrine custodians reaffirmed their intention to strengthen their influence in the Islamic world, expand pilgrimage culture, and enhance cultural cooperation among Muslim nations.
6. Condemnation of Zionist aggression:
   The statement strongly denounces ongoing attacks by the Israeli regime and its supporters against the oppressed people of the region, declaring unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the Axis of Resistance, and rejecting any violation of ceasefires in Gaza.
7. Condemnation of recent attacks on Iran:
   Participants condemned the “recent brutal aggression” imposed on the Islamic Republic during the so-called Twelve-Day War, urging national unity and cohesion in the face of foreign threats.
8. Support for Iran’s armed forces:
   The custodians praised the courage of Iran’s military forces and strongly rejected attempts by certain Western-aligned governments to label the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
9. Emphasis on Islamic social values:
   The statement reaffirms the importance of observing Islamic principles—particularly hijab and chastity—as essential for safeguarding the moral and spiritual health of society and guiding the younger generation.

The concluding section of the statement reasserts commitments to the Holy Qur’an, the Ahlul Bayt (PBUT), the ideals of the late Imam Khomeini, and the leadership of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The custodians collectively described their mission as a divine and civilizational duty to advance the teachings of Islam and honor the legacy of the martyrs.

The statement was signed by:

• Ahmad Marvi, Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi
• Seyed Mohammad Saeedi, Custodian of the Holy Shrine of Hazrat Fatima Masoumeh (PBUH)
• Ebrahim Kalantari, Custodian of the Holy Shrine of Shah Cheragh (PBUH)
• Sayyid Ali Qazi Askar, Custodian of the Holy Shrine of Hazrat Abdul Azim Hassani (PBUH)
• Sayyid Ali Akbar Ojaqnejad, Custodian of Jamkaran Mosque
• Sayyid Mehdi Khamoushi, Representative of the Leader and Head of the Endowments and Charity Affairs Organization
• Sayyid Abdul Fattah Nawab, Representative of the Leader in Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs and Supervisor of Iranian Pilgrims

The session concluded on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at the Holy Jamkaran Mosque.