Tehran, Iran – March 17, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV)
1. Various of traffic seen from moving vehicle
2. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Reza, local resident (full name not given) (ending with shot 3):
"If there is a ceasefire, I agree. If the war ends, I also agree. I hope anything beneficial to the people and the country will happen."
3. People at market
4. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Hamid, local resident (full name not given) (starting with shot 3/ending with shot 5):
"I hope that the war will be no longer an issue we need to pay attention to. In fact, [the United States] has threatened us with war for over 40 years, and now they have reached a conclusion and launched the war. But the people [of Iran] still stand firmly with the Supreme Leader. This war will end with Iran's victory."
5. Various of people, stalls at market

People in Iran still bought flowers at street markets on Tuesday for Chaharshanbeh Suri, an ancient fire festival, which is considered as a sign of a farewell to the old year and a prelude to the new year.

But apparently, many locals are less enthusiastic about the celebrations than usual under the prolonged U.S.-Israeli military operations against the country.

The conflict in the region entered its 18th day Tuesday, with Iran confirming the deaths of its top security official Ali Larijani and its Basij volunteer force's commander Gholamreza Soleimani.

The Iranian government on Tuesday sent text messages to all mobile phone users to remind them not to set off fireworks and firecrackers during the festival, in case of triggering panic among the public or unnecessary trouble for the rescue teams.

"If there is a ceasefire, I agree. If the war ends, I also agree. I hope anything beneficial to the people and the country will happen," said Reza, a local resident.

"I hope that the war will be no longer an issue we need to pay attention to. In fact, [the United States] has threatened us with war for over 40 years, and now they have reached a conclusion and launched the war. But the people [of Iran] still stand firmly with the Supreme Leader. This war will end with Iran's victory," said Hamid, another local resident.

The turn of year, according to the Iranian calendar, falls on March 21 which also marks the beginning of the spring in the country.