Iran declares week of national unity after new supreme leader's 1st message

TEHRAN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref said on Thursday the administration has declared the coming week as the "Week of National Unity and Solidarity for Iran," according to the official news agency IRNA.

Aref said he had made the decision on behalf of the administration and was inspired by the first message of Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The message was released earlier in the day and highlighted the need to maintain unity among the Iranian people.

Aref said, as stressed by Iran's supreme leader, the people's "effective presence on the scene and maintaining national unity" are the most important props for the country's power and security.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East. Enditem