How to say congratulations in Persian
Persian has one general congratulations and a family of mobarak wishes, including one for a new phone.
The all-purpose congratulations in Persian is tabrik migam تبریک میگم, "I offer congratulations". It fits exam results, promotions, engagements, anything. The formal version is tabrik arz mikonam تبریک عرض میکنم.
Mobarak: the blessing word
Mobarak مبارک means blessed, and Persian attaches it to whatever is being celebrated. You already know the pattern if you have seen Nowruz mobarak or tavalodet mobarak. Name the occasion, add mobarak, and you have a correct wish.
Mobarak bashe: congratulations on a new thing
Persian congratulates people on new possessions, which English mostly does not. Bought a car, a phone, a coat? Friends will say mobarak bashe مبارک باشه, may it be blessed, or more specifically mobaraket bashe, may it be blessed for you. It works for anything new, down to a haircut. It is a small cultural habit that instantly marks you as someone who knows how Persian works.
Weddings and engagements
For a wedding, say ezdevajetoon mobarak ازدواجتون مبارک, congratulations on your marriage. The warm follow-up every couple hears is khoshbakht beshid خوشبخت بشید, may you be happy together, and often be paye ham pir beshid به پای هم پیر بشید, may you grow old side by side.
A new baby
For a birth, tavalode farzandetoon mobarak works, but the everyday version is again mobarak bashe with warm wishes for the mother, such as ghadamesh mobarak قدمش مبارک, may the baby's arrival bring blessing. Literally it says "may their footstep be blessed", the idea that a newborn brings good fortune into the house.
Replying to congratulations
Answer with mersi or kheyli mamnoon, thank you. If someone congratulates you on a new possession, the traditional reply is an offer to share it, ghabel nadare, "it is not worthy of you", which is pure tarof: nobody expects you to hand over the car keys.
Learn tabrik migam for general occasions and mobarak bashe for new things, and you can congratulate your way through most of Iranian life.