TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - According to an Iran Press report, teams of experts at different locations throughout the Islamic Republic of Iran on Sunday night (5 May) failed to observe the crescent of the new moon on that night, and so Monday 6 May was declared as 30th of Sha'ban on the Islamic lunar calendar, and thus Tuesday was declared as the first day of the lunar month of Ramadhan, the blessed ninth month of the Islamic lunar year.
Similarly, in various other Asian and European countries, such as Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Oman, and Britain, teams of experts did not observe the crescent of the new moon on Sunday night (5 May), and so Monday 6 May was declared as the last day of the month of Sha'ban, and Tuesday 7 May was declared as the first day of the blessed Holy month of Ramadhan.
In Iraq, the office of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali al-Sistani issued a statement informing the public that Tuesday 7 May was the first day of blessed Holy month of Ramadhan.
In Britain, the Islamic Centre of England, and also the Institute of Grand Ayatollah Khouie also issued statements informing the Muslims community in Britain that Tuesday 7 May is the first day of the blessed Ramadhan.
Source: Iran Press