- Title: Iranians in Spain celebrate fire festival as Israel, U.S. strike Iran
- Date: 17th March 2026
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN MIGRANT, MINA (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), SAYING: "We Iranians are not necessarily... we are not naive, we are not necessarily in love with Trump or Israel. We are very... we appreciate them for the help they are offering to us. So we know that we couldn't actually do that on our own. We know that Trump and Israel are actually bringing up this attac
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Chaharshanbe Suri Nowruz Persian New Year Trump spring festival strikes war
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA002501517032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Iranian diaspora in Barcelona beach on Tuesday (March 17) marked Chaharshanbeh Suri, a Persian fire-jumping festival observed ahead of Nowruz.
Footage showed Iranians with Israeli, U.S. and Iranian flags jumping over fires and dancing as war between Iran, Israel and the United States overshadowed the annual festival.
Some celebrants burned images of Iran's security chief Ali Larijani who was killed in Israeli strikes earlier in the day reflecting support among some Iranians for the military campaign against Tehran's rulers.
Iranian migrant, Mina, told Reuters many in the diaspora did not necessarily support Israel or U.S. President Donald Trump, but saw the strikes as helping bring political change in Iran.
Another Iranian, Ali, said he had briefly reached relatives in Iran after weeks without contact and said his family told him they were safe and that Israel and the U.S. where targeting terrorists, not ordinary people.
Meanwhile, in Iran, authorities warned people to stay home during the festival and announced arrests linked to alleged collaboration with Israel and the United States.
Chaharshanbeh Suri (Scarlet Wednesday), an ancient Zoroastrian feast, is held on the eve of the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar, with Iranians usually setting off fireworks and jumping over fires at their home courtyard or in the streets.
In the Iranian calendar, Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the vernal equinox, and it Is celebrated by more than 300 million people all around the world, according to the United Nations.
(Production: Horaci Garcia, Andrea Rodriguez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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