A global campaign has been launched to turn the traditional New Year’s countdown into a countdown to immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as Israel’s killing campaign against the besieged territory in entering its fourth month.

On the occasion of the Iranian new year, Ebrahim Raisi said on Sunday night: "My first message on Nowruz as a servant of the Republic is the message of tireless working and effort to build a strong and advanced Iran."

Here is the full text of the message issued on March 20, 2022, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on the occasion of Nowruz, the start of the Iranian New Year.

Chang Hua, the Chinese ambassador in Tehran, tweeted on the occasion of Nowruz, congratulating the Iranian people on the occasion of Nowruz and wrote: "I hope you have a prosperous year and full of happiness ahead."