Iran Initiates Week of National Unity Following New Supreme Leader's First Address
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Tehran, March 13 (NationPress) Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref announced that the government has designated the upcoming week as the "Week of National Unity and Solidarity for Iran," as reported by the official news agency IRNA.
Aref indicated that this decision was made on behalf of the administration, influenced by the inaugural message from Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. This message, released earlier today, underscored the importance of fostering unity among the Iranian populace, as noted by the Xinhua news agency.
Aref emphasized that, as highlighted by the Supreme Leader, the public's "effective presence" and the preservation of national unity are critical to the nation’s strength and security.
In another development, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's permanent envoy to the United Nations, stated on Thursday that it is Iran's "inherent right" to ensure peace and security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iravani informed reporters that Iran "fully respects and remains committed to the principle of freedom of navigation under the law of the sea."
However, he asserted that the current regional circumstances, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, are not a result of Iran's lawful self-defense, but rather the direct outcome of destabilizing actions by the United States, which have provoked aggression against Iran and jeopardized regional security.
On Thursday, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reiterated the necessity of maintaining the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that "the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely continue to be used."
This follows the joint military operations launched by Israel and the United States against Tehran and other Iranian cities on February 28, which resulted in the death of Iran's previous Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, alongside several senior military officials and civilians. In retaliation, Iran executed multiple missile and drone assaults targeting Israeli and U.S. military installations and assets across the Middle East.