TEHRAN- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has addressed the nation on the occasion of the Iranian New Year, promising to increase government services in the New Year.

“1402, a year full of ups and downs and with important events, had both sweet events and surprises and some bitter events. But the result of the events of the year was more growth and prosperity of dear Iran in all sectors,” Raisi said, according to a readout put out by the official presidential website.

The Iranian year 1402 ended on Wednesday.

He added, “The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution named the year 1402 as the year of production growth and inflation control. The overall economic growth in 1402 will be at least 6%, according to the estimate of the Statistics Centre, for three consecutive years now, the country has experienced growth rates above 4%, while the average economic growth in the previous years was less than 1%. Next to the wing of production growth, the other wing of the slogan of the year was to curb inflation. You remember that from the beginning of this government and at different times, some people claimed that inflation will reach 3 digits! But today, not only those pessimistic predictions did not come true, on contrary, inflation was on a downward path, point by point inflation decreased from around 55% at the beginning of this year to 35% in the last month, and total inflation will be something about 40 percent. That is, in one year, point-to-point inflation has decreased by 20 percentage points.”

According to Raisi, the year 1402 was a special year, along with progress and prosperity, in terms of the implementation of justice-oriented programs and projects.

The Iranian president pointed out that in the New Year, accelerating the completion of half-finished projects is one of the main approaches of the government. “We have to direct the funds towards production and infrastructure works and at the same time, make up for the backwardness of the previous decade. I assure you that with trust in Almighty God and with you dear and noble people, the year 1403 will be the year of greater prosperity of production and economy, further reduction of the inflation rate and extensive service to the dear people,” he noted.

He continued, “In these two and a half years, trying to complete the half-finished plans and achieve the results of large projects in various sectors such as health, communication, culture, education, water, electricity, gas, road, science and technology, environment and supporting the deprived, this year, these services will increase, God willing.”

Raisi also addressed some other international issues.

“In the case of Gaza, we saw another manifestation of standing up to the enemy. The oppressors of the world gathered all their forces to destroy the two million free people of Gaza. From the newest and most up-to-date anti-rocket bombs to billions of dollars, they provided the Zionists with money, but they could not,” he said.

The president stated, “The year 1402 was also a year of transition from differences and social tensions. The enemies of this nation had troubled dreams for our national unity and cohesion. They thought that because of the sedition imposed in 1401, they were able to harm our national unity and integrity, but the people of Iran showed that they are men of the days of accidents. The meaningful presence of people in different fields disappointed them.

One of the arenas of people's attendance was the elections of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Leadership Experts. The enemy's plan to boycott the elections failed with the presence of the people in the scene. Now it is the turn of the people's elected representatives to fulfill their commitments by maintaining unity and cohesion, and we also hope that with the new parliament's empathy, cooperation, and companionship, we will see more success in creating changes in the country's administrative system and unraveling the knots in people's lives.”

He noted, “The old prescription of the ill-wishers is to create division; Both, creating division among the people and among the officials. We should all fight back the conspiracies together with each other.”