In a message on the occasion of the beginning of the year 1404 of the solar Hijri calendar, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution named the New Year "The Year of Investment for Production."
Noting the coincidence of the start of the New Year with the Nights of Qadr and the days of the martyrdom of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (as), Ayatollah Khamenei expressed hope that the blessings of these sacred nights and the attention of the Master of the God-fearing would encompass the beloved people of Iran and all those whose new year begins with Nowruz.
He described the year 1403 (Mar. 21st 2024 – Mar. 21st 2025), with its successive incidents, as an eventful year resembling those of the year 1360 (March 21st 1981 to March 21st 1982), accompanied by hardships and difficulties for the people. He said, "The martyrdom of several Iranian advisors in Damascus, the martyrdom of Mr Raisi, the beloved President of the Iranian people, and subsequent bitter incidents in Tehran and Lebanon caused the Iranian nation and the Islamic Ummah to lose valuable personalities this year."
The Leader of the Revolution listed the pressure of economic difficulties and hardships with livelihood, especially in the second half of the year, as among the other notable events of 1403. He remarked, "In the face of these challenges, a tremendous and remarkable phenomenon emerged: the strength of will and the spiritual resolve of the Iranian nation, along with their unity and high level of preparedness." The first manifestation of this was evident in their response to the loss of the President, as reflected in the slogans and high spirits of the people during the grand farewell, which demonstrated that such a heavy tragedy could not instil a sense of weakness in the nation."
He mentioned the swift holding of the presidential election within the legal timeframe and the resolution of the leadership vacuum through the election of a president and the formation of a government as another manifestation of the high morale and spiritual capability of Iranians. Speaking of yet another arena in which the nation's spiritual and moral strength became evident, he said, "In response to the hardships faced by the people of Lebanon and Palestine, the Iranian nation, with great generosity, sent a flood of public aid to their religious brothers and sisters in Lebanon and Palestine."
Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned the astonishing public support for the Resistance, particularly the generous donations of gold by Iranian women, as an enduring and unforgettable event in the country's history. He said, "The strength of will, the firm national resolve, and the spiritual preparedness and strength of the people are valuable assets for the future and the eternal prosperity of beloved Iran, ensuring the continuation of divine blessings upon this nation."
In another part of his Nowruz message, the Leader of the Revolution spoke about naming the year 1403 as "The Leap in Production with the People's Participation." He said that despite the efforts of the government, the people, and the private sector, the events of the past year hindered the full realisation of this slogan. He added, "Therefore, the main slogan and focus this year will remain economic and centred on the issue of investment because a leap in production and the ability to address issues concerning livelihood depend on achieving investment in production."
He emphasised the role of the government in creating the groundwork for public investment in production. He said, "Of course, in situations where people lack the motivation or capacity to invest, the government can enter the field as a substitute, but not in competition with the people, and make the investments itself."
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that achieving investment in production requires serious determination and motivation from both the government and the people. He said, "The role of the government is to pave the way and remove obstacles to production, while the people's role is to direct their small and large-scale capital into productive avenues. In doing so, capital will no longer be drawn to harmful areas, such as foreign currency and gold and the Central Bank and the government have a significant role to play in this regard."
With this introduction, the Leader of the Revolution named the slogan for the year 1404, "Investment for Production”, and expressed the hope that, through government planning and public participation, a breakthrough in conditions related to livelihood would be achieved.
In the concluding part of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei described the renewed aggression of the usurping Zionist regime against Gaza as a massive and catastrophic crime. He said, "This issue is a matter for the entire Islamic Ummah, and therefore, the entire Ummah must set aside their differences and stand united against these atrocities." He also stressed that all free people of the world—including those in Europe and America, must confront this treacherous and heinous action and work to prevent the renewed killing of children, the destruction of homes, and the displacement of innocent people.
He emphasised that the United States is complicit in this tragedy, stating that, according to political analysts, this crime was carried out with the approval or at least the consent of the U.S. He continued, "The events in Yemen and the attacks on Yemeni civilians are another crime that must be stopped without a doubt."
At the end of his speech, the Leader of the Revolution expressed hope for the well-being, righteousness, and victory of the Islamic Ummah, as well as the continued happiness, satisfaction, success, and complete unity of the Iranian people throughout the year. He also prayed that the sacred heart of Imam Mahdi (aj) and the pure souls of the great Imam (Khomeini) and the martyrs may be pleased and satisfied with the Iranian people.