Celebrating Nowruz in Tehran

Interplay of Persian and Islamic identities in Iranian diplomacy

by Abolghasem Bayyenat

While the world’s attention has been focused on the nuclear crisis in Japan and the ongoing political turmoil in the Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa, Iran has been engaged in summit diplomacy in recent days, hosting five heads of state and several other high-level political officials from regional countries, and commemorating Nowruz, the ancient cultural tradition marking the start of the Persian new year synchronizing with the beginning of spring. The hosting of this event by Iran is in large part thought to send the unmistakable message to the world that, despite the claim of its adversaries to the contrary, Iran is too important and influential a nation to be isolated, at least in its own region.