Another woman, Maryam, says that some people are defiantly preparing for the festival and its centrepiece – the Haft Sin table.
“There were people out buying things for Haft Sin. I saw flowers and some street vendors. But no, it’s not like it was in previous years,” she says.
“At the same time, this is a tradition that happens once a year, and we must celebrate it. I bought some items and we had some at home. I’m planning to lay out Haft Sin tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, there are some inside the country who support the war continuing.
“What’s the point of Nowruz? If the Islamic Republic stays in power, we have to live with endless hardships. Nowruz is always there, comes and goes. This time, the Islamic Republic must go,” says Ramtin, a man in his 30s in Tehran.
Kian, also from Tehran, says his mum “says she’d even be willing for the house to collapse on her head if it meant the clerics would be gone.
“I feel the same. Even if everything falls apart, I still think the Islamic Republic needs to go. We don’t care about Nowruz, we don’t even have Haft Sin on our table.”
Nowruz marks the point when the cold of winter begins to recede, giving way to the lively and hopeful arrival of spring. People make wishes, usually for health, happiness and a fresh start in the new year for themselves and their loved ones.
Shirin, a woman in her 20s from Tehran, says the war coinciding with Nowruz “makes me feel even worse”.
“Some shops are open, but you can’t smell Nowruz in the air.”
