Iran Nowruz: War and Strikes Cast Shadow Over New Year Celebrations
Explosions rocked Tel Aviv as Iran launched a barrage of missiles targeting central Israel overnight, escalating a conflict triggered by the assassination of a top Iranian security official. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was “revenge for the blood of martyr Dr. Ali Larijani and his companions,” according to Al Jazeera.
The attack, identified as Wave 58 of Operation “True Promise-4,” utilized Khorramshahr-4 cluster missiles, designed to overwhelm Israel’s air defence systems, according to Defence Security Asia. The missiles carried warheads capable of dispensing multiple bomblets, each with roughly 2–2.5 kg of explosive, creating a wide fragmentation footprint.
Two people were killed in the Ramat Gan area near Tel Aviv, and several others were injured by falling shrapnel, with significant property damage reported, including at a Tel Aviv train station. Israeli officials confirmed incoming missiles from Iran, with reports of damage to several buildings, as reported by MSN.
The strikes follow the recent killings of Ali Larijani, a former de facto leader of Iran, and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force, in what Iranian state media has described as Israeli air strikes. Funerals for both men were held in Tehran on Wednesday, Press TV reported.
Amidst the escalating conflict, heavy strikes were as well reported across Tehran during Nowruz, the Iranian latest year, a period traditionally marked by celebration and renewal. Israel stated it “acted alone” in striking Iran’s South Pars gasfield, further heightening tensions.
Despite the ongoing war, some Iranians are attempting to observe Nowruz traditions. Darya, a painter in Tehran, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural practices “especially in times like these.” She and her family laid out the Haft Seen table, a traditional display of seven symbolic items representing wishes for the new year.
However, the conflict has significantly disrupted preparations for the holiday. Ali, a vegetable seller in Tajrish Bazaar, noted that most vendors had shuttered their shops until recently, and even now, market energy remains subdued. Hassan, a flower shop owner in northern Tehran, reported a 90% loss of his flower stock due to the war, with sales down to approximately 5% of the usual peak season volume.
The war has also brought personal loss and economic hardship. Erfan, owner of the Khooshe pastry shop in Tehran’s Shohada Square, saw his family business, founded over 60 years ago, destroyed in an airstrike on the Tehran Province Electricity Distribution Company. He noted that business had already been suffering due to earlier anti-government protests. “Now it’s Nowruz, and all I’m doing is rebuilding my shop,” he said, adding that he believes change in Iran is needed, but not through violence.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday he was considering “winding down” military operations, writing on social media that the U.S. Was “getting very close to meeting our objectives.” However, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz indicated that strikes would “intensify” in the next week, signalling a continued escalation of the conflict.
The streets of Tehran remained largely empty during the traditional Chaharshanbe Suri fire festival, held the Wednesday before Nowruz, with only a handful of people lighting fires throughout the capital. Despite the challenges, some, like Hassan and his daughter Sajedeh, are keeping their shops open, hoping to offer a sign of normalcy and hope to those passing by.