‘A year of freedom’: Netanyahu, Herzog send Nowruz greetings to ‘brave’ Iranian people

Amid the ongoing US-Israeli aerial assault against the Islamic Republic, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has wished the “brave people of Iran” a happy Nowruz ahead of the Persian New Year, in a video message shared by his office.

“To the brave people of Iran, I wish you, as I do every year, a happy holiday season, beginning with the Festival of Lights,” Netanyahu says in the video, which was released late last night.

“It reflects the enduring belief of the Iranian people that light will triumph over darkness, and that good will prevail over evil. This year, the holiday carries special meaning. Celebrate it with your friends, your families, and your loved ones,” he continues.

“I take this opportunity to wish you a happy Nowruz — a year of freedom and a new beginning filled with hope for all of you, my dear friends,” the premier says.

President Isaac Herzog sends his own “warm wishes” to the Iranian people, ahead of Charshanbeh Suri, the first festivity of Nowruz, which begins this evening.

“To the people of Iran, as the president of Israel, I am sending you warm wishes on the Festival of Fire, Charshanbeh Suri,” Herzog says in a video message released this morning.

تبریکات گرم از اسرائیل به مردم ایران به مناسبت جشن آتش، چهارشنبه سوری.

Warm wishes from Israel to the people of Iran on the Festival of Fire, Charshanbeh Suri. pic.twitter.com/VBWiPibK9C

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) March 17, 2026

“May this Festival of Fire, which is a unique, ancient tradition of your people, bring with it best wishes, warmth, and happiness, and change that you so well deserve. You deserve better. You deserve change. You deserve good. I hope that this Charshanbeh Suri will bring with it a real change — change in the region, change in Iran, change for the future of our children,” Herzog concludes.

Israel and the United States continue to press ahead with their military assault, which Israeli and American leaders have said aims to “create the conditions” for the Iranian people to overthrow the ruling regime.