Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Mar 13: The Iran government has declared the coming week as the “Week of National Unity and Solidarity for Iran,” according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref said the decision was taken on behalf of the administration and was inspired by the first public message from the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. In his message released earlier in the day, Khamenei emphasized the importance of unity among Iranians, noting that public participation and national cohesion are essential for the country’s strength and security.

Meanwhile, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said Tehran considers it an “inherent right” to safeguard peace and security in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Iravani stressed that Iran respects the principle of freedom of navigation under international maritime law.

However, he argued that the current tensions in the region are not due to Iran’s actions but are a result of what he described as destabilizing moves by the United States, which he accused of launching aggression against Iran and undermining regional stability.

Earlier, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had called for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, saying the strategic waterway should remain blocked as a pressure measure.

Regional tensions have escalated since February 28, when the United States and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities. The attacks killed Iran’s then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders and civilians.

In response, Iran launched multiple waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli positions and US military bases across the Middle East, further intensifying the regional conflict.