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Nowruz 2026 Observed in Wartime Iran and Across the Diaspora With Resolve and Restraint

Iran’s leadership used the holiday to declare a “year of the resistance economy” in a televised address.

Overview

  • A fourth week of IranUSIsrael fighting, triggered by February 28 US and Israeli strikes after failed nuclear talks, has killed thousands and spread to neighboring countries.
  • Tehran residents reported frequent pre-dawn air strikes around 3–4am that shake homes and keep families on edge.
  • Inside Iran, many scaled back rituals and shopping because of bombardment, shortages and inflation, though some Nowruz traditions continued.
  • Diaspora gatherings blended celebration with protest and aid, including Melbourne’s anti‑regime flags, a callout over a 22‑day communications blackout, and Paris events raising funds for refugees.
  • State television aired Mojtaba Khamenei’s Nowruz message praising national resistance and designating the new Persian year the “year of the resistance economy.”