Amir Abdollahian sent separate congratulatory messages to the foreign ministers of some countries that celebrate Nowruz, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and India.

In his message, the senior diplomat congratulated the arrival of Nowruz and wished the people of these countries "a year full of bounties and growth".

Nowruz, the start of the year according to the Persian calendar which marks arrival of spring was celebrated across Iran.

Nowruz, which coincides with the first day of spring on the solar calendar is mostly celebrated in 10 countries of Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

The International Day of Nowruz was registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in February 2010.

For Iranians, Nowruz is a celebration of renewal and change, a time to visit relatives and friends, and pay respect to senior family members.

Iranians welcome the New Year by wearing new clothes and setting the Haft Seen, a table containing seven items starting with the letter 'S'; Sabzeh (freshly grown greens), Samanu (sweet wheat paste), Senjed (jujube), Seeb (apple), Seer (garlic), Serkeh (vinegar) and Somaq (sumac).