This year's Persian New Year, called Nowruz, has arrived in Tehran with its familiar scent of hyacinths and the sparkle of goldfish darting in crystal bowls, yet something feels different. As families visit relatives for the first time in months, in many cases, conversations are rife about the dire state of the economy and threats from Washington. 

The economic realities couldn't be ignored. In Tehran's Grand Bazaar, shopkeepers displayed Nowruz items—without prices—whilst customers calculated their shrinking budgets against soaring prices. Despite the biting inflation and the rial's continued slide, Persepolis and other historic sites swelled with visitors at the turning of the year.

The crowds seemed larger and more purposeful than usual. Many observed that the coinciding of Nowruz celebrations with Ramadan this year created a striking cultural juxtaposition. The gatherings at historic sites were widely interpreted as an assertion of “national identity”, with many Iranians making deliberate choices to double down their Persian cultural heritage over state television, which subsumed the national holiday with Islamic programming.

At these gatherings, chants of national songs resonated through the ancient spaces. Social media was abuzz with reports of expressions of admiration for the Reza Shah, accidentally dug up a few years ago when ground workers on the shrine where his tomb was previously situated. Those chants have only grown more fierce in recent years as the societal and economic situation has worsened.  

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Nowruz message drew particular criticism this year. Delivered from a room devoid of traditional Persian symbols and focused primarily on regional politics, many social media users condemned what they perceived as cultural detachment from the very celebration being addressed. In what appears to be a public relations decision to show solidarity with people on tight budgets, the opposite occurred this year with people complaining that he should at least nod toward the non-Islamic national holiday.

For many, the economic situation has reached a breaking point for many. Stagnant wages cannot keep pace with the rising cost of living, whilst political frustrations over perceived corruption and mismanagement continue to simmer beneath the surface of daily life. For others, emigration is now the only option, but those avenues continue to close down in both Europe and North America.

More recently, Trump's return to power has cast a long shadow over Iranian politics. His administration's renewed "maximum pressure" strategy has effectively strangled oil exports, whilst his military posturing has created an atmosphere of perpetual tension. Iran’s rial, currently hovering around IRR1mn to the dollar, is expected to explode past that ceiling.

Hamid, a 29-year-old in Karaj speaking with IntelliNews, said that he has recently given up on searching for work locally and was seeking opportunities in both Turkey and Azerbaijan due to his Azeri heritage. “It’s easier for us to get a work visa in Turkey, thanks to the visa-free deal between the two countries,” he said. Others are looking further afield, potentially adding to the worsening exodus of working-age people from the Islamic Republic.

A voice on social media captured a sentiment shared by many. Arash, posting on X, shared his New Year's hope that "with the clerical government gone, exiled singers would return to perform across Iran, bringing joy to Iranians," adding, "We start the New Year with hope."

The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria—Iran's longtime ally—has particularly captivated attention. This development, following 13 years of civil war, has been interpreted by many Iranians as evidence that even entrenched regimes can ultimately fall and that the government has pulled out of its wider network.

Walking through Tehran's neighbourhoods, one encounters varying perspectives. Shirin, 48, faces the possibility of conflict with a determined outlook. As quoted in Intellinews, she believes economic hardship will finally motivate the "indifferent" to join in opposition to the regime, maintaining hope that this Nowruz signals positive transformation for her nation.

"In my opinion, this year, the state of this country will head toward clarity to a great extent, because the crises have got out of control," Sara, 45, from Tehran, told Intellinews. "Markets always change direction at the height of despair. We are now on the verge of this turnaround. Difficult days ahead, but it's the end. I am optimistic about fundamental changes this year."

Mohammad Ali in Kerman said that Trump's reported two-month deadline meant Iranians could finally make long-term plans—something they haven't managed in nearly 50 years due to ongoing volatility—suggesting this year would determine the outcome of Iran's standoff with the US.

A contrasting perspective comes from Mehdi, in his 40s, who offered a bleaker assessment to Intellinews. He forecasts another year of stagnation, arguing that the regime will pursue unilateral compromises rather than engage in US negotiations, and considers both war and regime change unlikely possibilities in the near term.

Amid this uncertainty, Nowruz traditions provide a comforting constant. The careful arrangement of the Haft-Sin, the thorough house cleaning, the visiting of elders—these rituals continue uninterrupted. Yet even these traditions have taken on deeper symbolic meaning.

The traditional symbols of Nowruz—particularly the Haft-Sin table with its seven items beginning with the Persian letter 'sin'—have become powerful reminders of cultural continuity amidst turmoil. For many Iranians, celebrating Nowruz this year was both a cherished tradition and a form of cultural resilience.

As spring settles over Tehran, the jacaranda trees will soon burst into their purple glory, a reminder of nature's persistence through cycles of hardship. Similarly, Iranians continue their own cycle of resilience, finding ways to celebrate life and culture even as they navigate an increasingly challenging present.

Whether change comes through internal evolution, external pressure, or some unpredictable combination of factors remains unknown. But as Iranians exchange their traditional Nowruz greetings this year, the familiar blessings carry additional significance—a shared hope of new chapter for the country.