Mojtaba Khamenei issued a new statement on Friday afternoon to mark the Persian New Year. The new Supreme Leader of Iran spoke to his country as it is marking Nowruz amid the ongoing conflict.

In his message, he described the new year as one of “economic resilience” – after Iran was marred by widespread protests against the cost of living between December and January, which were violently quashed by the IRGC.

Khamenei succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after the late Supreme Leader was killed in an airstrike on the first day of the US-Israeli Operation Epic Fury.

Despite being appointed Supreme Leader, he has yet to make a public appearance and hasn’t been photographed since the US and Israeli strikes began on February 28.