(dpa) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Thursday for resistance but also wisdom in the country's foreign policy.
"What we need in the political and diplomatic field is a new look with the aim of further prosperity for the country," the Ayatollah said in his speech on the occasion of the new Persian year starting simultaneously with the spring season.
"Surrendering and withdrawal is not the right approach towards the enemies (West), we have to be courageous but also wise. Success in the international field could also affect the situation at home," Khamenei said in speech carried on state television.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who constitutionally has the final say on all state matters, did not further elaborate but called the new year 1387 (2008-2009) a "year of renewal and prosperity."
Observers called the speech a signal to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to modify his policies to avoid further hardships for the people.
The president's political ambitions, including his uncompromising stance in the nuclear dispute, has led to a decline in the country's economy and boosted inflation by 20 to 30 per cent.
In his New Year speech President Ahmadinejad confessed to the high inflation in the country but promised that his government would work "around the clock" to improve the economy.
Ahmadinejad once again blamed the global economic situation, recession and price hikes as well as "hostilities by some of the enemies" as reasons for the economic situation in Iran.
"But (despite the economic problems) today the image of Iran shines in the world as front-runner of resistance and self- confidence," the president said.
The first set-back for the president in the new Persian year was a parliamentary order to return to summer time again which Ahmadinejad had vehemently rejected in the last two years.
As of Friday, Iran's clocks will be put one hour forward and the national time will hence have a four-and-half-hour difference to GMT.