Khamenei: Iran dealt enemies a 'dizzying blow' as Nowruz blasts hit Tehran
Khamenei: Iran dealt enemies a 'dizzying blow' as Nowruz blasts hit Tehran
Iran's leader vows unity and victory as Tehran endures Nowruz blasts amid war with the US and Israel, following reports of Basij leadership being targeted.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei released a Nowruz message on Friday saying the country had dealt its enemies a dizzying blow in the war with the United States and Israel. He framed the moment as a rallying point for a year he named the 'resistance economy under national unity and national security,' insisting that unity across religious, intellectual, cultural and political lines would keep Iran resilient. The written message comes as the conflict intensifies and as fresh blasts were heard in Tehran on the first day of the Persian New Year.
The leader argued that, at this moment of heightened pressure abroad, the enemy is seen uttering contradictory words and nonsense, while Iranians across the country are united. He stressed that the moment of victory was born from a unique blend of popular resolve and strategic coherence, despite ongoing regional tensions and external pressure.
Meanwhile, U.S. forces have signaled a tougher posture in West Asia, with reports that three additional warships and roughly 2,500 Marines were being deployed to the region. Iran and allied forces were quoted as not being behind recent attacks on Oman and Turkey, with Tehran blaming 'deception by the Zionist enemy' for the provocations and misdirections surrounding the strikes.
On the ground, Tehran experienced a notable disruption as blasts echoed through the capital on Nowruz. In the markets, shoppers browsed for new clothes and gifts, reflecting a muted holiday mood amid the ongoing war, even as city life continued around the unusual quiet of a national celebration.
Reports circulated that Ismaeil Ahmadi, the chief of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, was eliminated in a strike that also killed the top Basij commander. While details remained disputed, the claim underscored the war’s reach across Iran's security apparatus and the targetting of senior military leadership. The broader narrative from Iranian leadership focused on national unity and resistance, even as the country faced external military and diplomatic pressure during the Nowruz period.
