Iran has officially announced that the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Saturday, following the completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
According to a statement from the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, Friday will mark the 30th and final day of Ramadan after the crescent moon was not sighted earlier than expected.
“Tomorrow, Friday, will be the 30th day of the blessed month of Ramadan,” the statement said, confirming that Eid al-Fitr celebrations will begin the following day.
The announcement, broadcast on state television, aligns with the Islamic lunar calendar, which determines key religious events based on the sighting of the moon.
In neighboring Iraq, a similar declaration was made by prominent Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani, reinforcing a unified observance date among many Shia Muslim communities.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a sacred period during which Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset. The observance is one of the core pillars of Islam and emphasizes spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and charity.
“This period is not only about abstaining from food and drink but also about compassion and generosity towards the less privileged,” a religious scholar noted.
This year’s conclusion of Ramadan coincides with Nowruz, the Persian New Year, a cultural celebration observed across Iran and other parts of the region during the spring equinox.
Eid celebrations typically include communal prayers, festive meals, and acts of charity, as millions of Muslims around the world mark the end of the fasting period.
