Norouz Marked Under War, Blackouts and Tight Security

Overview

• Iranians in Iran and across the diaspora observed the Persian New Year on March 20 with a subdued mood shaped by ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes and recent repression.
• In Tehran, heavily armed security forces and armored vehicles were visible on key streets as authorities urged people to stay home and warned of alleged plots following Reza Pahlavi’s call to demonstrate.
• Near-total communications blackouts made it difficult for families and expatriates to exchange New Year greetings or check on relatives.
• Economic strain and soaring prices left many Norouz tables far more modest than usual, with media citing extreme food costs as households cut back.
• Diaspora organizers framed gatherings as acts of solidarity and resistance, while one French outlet reported a 40‑day mourning order and a ban on festivities after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s reported death, a claim not corroborated across other reports.