On February 6, H. E. Mr. Ali Reza Irvash, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Bulgaria,

hosted a reception in the "Sofia" Hall of the Marinela Hotel on the occasion of the country's national holiday. The event was attended by officials, members of parliament, ambassadors, diplomats, journalists, and cultural figures.

After the national anthems of both countries were played, H. E. Mr. Ali Reza Irvash addressed the audience with a welcoming speech:

In the name of God

Ladies and gentlemen,
Honored guests,

On behalf of the staff of the Iranian Embassy and myself, I have the honor of welcoming you to this reception marking the 46th anniversary of the founding of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Forty-six years ago, as a result of the will of the Iranian people, the Pahlavi dynasty ended its reign, and a new political structure was established in Iran based on the principles of independence, freedom, and Islamic law.

These 46 years have been a time of accumulating valuable experience, overcoming various challenges, and, of course, achieving remarkable and pride-inspiring accomplishments. Iran has demonstrated self-sufficiency, conquered new fields of knowledge, and localized them. Despite enduring difficult moments and standing resilient against sanctions imposed on human rights by certain Western powers, the Iranian people have made significant progress.

As only a month has passed since the start of the new year, I take this opportunity to wish all of you a peaceful year filled with health and success.

May this year bring an end to all conflicts and through collective attempts and sincere cooperation at an international level, we will be able to see and enjoy peace and tranquility throughout the world.

I hope that all conflicts will come to an end this year and that, through collective efforts and sincere international cooperation, we will achieve global peace and stability. Ending war - rather, ending genocide and mass killings in the Middle East - and ensuring the return of captives to their homes would be both heartwarming and gratifying.

We need diplomacy and democracy to stand out and make sure that efforts to spread peace through dialogue and diplomacy will be more significant.

We need the voices of peace-seeking to be louder than the drums of war.

Humanitarian aid initiatives and international relief organizations must grow stronger than the sanctions imposed on nations.

We not only need the UNRWA to continue its mission, but we must also establish additional international organizations dedicated to aid and peacekeeping.

We hope that this year will mark the decline of weapons factories and the arms trade market, and that national budgets will prioritize social welfare over military expenditures.

Iran and Bulgaria have numerous historical, civilizational, and cultural commonalities, and the strong relations between the two countries are built on these similarities. Our two nations have enjoyed long standing diplomatic, cultural and economic ties, and we look forward to further strengthening these relations in diverse areas in the future.

Finally, I would like to thank the government and all institutions of the Republic of Bulgaria, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Asia, Australia and Oceania Directorate, which always help us to better perform our diplomatic duties.

Once again I would like to thank all the distinguished guests who participated in this ceremony. I wish you a pleasant night and invite you to enjoy Iranian cuisine.

And the guests truly did enjoy it - along with the exquisite Iranian tea, which had its own dedicated corner in the hall.

Attendees also had the opportunity to explore an exhibition of Iranian handicrafts, admire framed carpet masterpieces, and view the festive table set for Nowruz (which is fast approaching) near the stage. Above it, stunning video footage of Iran was projected.

All guests left the celebration in high spirits, taking home a thoughtful memento from the embassy - beautiful Iranian souvenirs, distributed by Bulgarian girls dressed in exquisite traditional costumes from the Kazanlak region.

The photos have been provided by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Above: H. E. Mr. Ali Reza Irvash, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Bulgaria