António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, in a message on the occasion of the Solar New Year, described the spirit of Nowruz as a “precious gift” in a world full of war, division, and conflict.

In his message, published on the social media platform X, he stated that Nowruz symbolizes new beginnings, the rebirth of nature, and renewed hope.

The UN Secretary-General added: “In a world full of conflict and tension, the spirit of Nowruz is a precious gift that revives the hope for peace and calm in people’s hearts.”

He also expressed hope that with the arrival of Nowruz, peace and happiness would prevail in the world and that people would be freed from conflicts and hardships.

This comes as the Taliban in Afghanistan have banned the celebration of Nowruz and removed the first day of the year from public holidays.