Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei called the new Iranian year "the year of national unity and Islamic harmony." In his celebratory remarks to open the new Iranian year of 1386, the leader said all Iranians wish for national independence, national dignity and public welfare and that these aims would be realized through Islamic faith, unity of goal, national hope and resolve, due utilization of the country's potentialities as well as exercising foresight and exerting efforts.
Ayatollah Khamenei congratulated Nowrouz (the New Year Day) to every one of the Iranian people, Iranians expats as well as every nation that celebrates the day and characterized it as the Iranian national celebration.
Ayatollah Khamenei believed that the enemy essentially challenges the Iranian nation through "sowing discord by demoting the Iranian national unity" and "inciting economic problems to slow down the country's progress."
Ayatollah Khamenei cautioned about enemy's psychological warfare and vicious efforts to stir up differences between the Iranian people and the world of Islam. "Under the pretext of sectarian feelings, religious inclinations and gild orientations, the enemies are bent on destroying unity of the Iranian nation or fan religious differences in the world of Islam and draw a wedge between the Iranian nation and the rest of the Islamic community by inciting war between Shiites and Sunnis," Ayatollah Khamenei warned.
Ayatollah Khamenei affirmed that the sole way to frustrate enemies and thwart their plots lies in efforts to unite the nation and promote its integrity. "In God's assistance, all people of every sect or religion will expedite their hopeful move towards their bright future," Ayatollah Khamenei vowed, adding, "at the same time all Muslim nations will demonstrate their unity by promoting Islamic solidarity and fraternity."
