Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Friday that the country’s front lines are far stronger than its “enemies” assume, accusing them of miscalculating Iran’s internal strength.

In a written message marking the start of the Persian New Year (Nowruz), Khamenei said the war began after the enemy lost hope of triggering a popular uprising inside Iran.

He said adversaries believed assassinating top leaders and military figures would create fear and despair among the population and lead to the collapse of the political system.

Khamenei, however, said Iranians formed what he described as a “vast defense line” across the country, frustrating those plans.

He also called on Iranian media to avoid focusing on internal weaknesses, warning that hostile media operations aim to undermine national unity.

Khamenei declared the slogan for the new Persian year as “resistance economy under national unity and national security.”

He also said attacks that targeted Türkiye and Oman were not carried out by Iran or its allies, accusing Israel of attempting to sow division between Iran and its neighbors.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing so far some 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation. (AA)