Statement by President Obama on Nowruz
March 21, 2014, Washington, D.C. – As he has done on previous occasions, President Obama yesterday released a special video message to those celebrating Nowruz, taking the opportunity to speak directly to the people and leaders of Iran.
This year, the President called on the entire government of Iran to seize the opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement that resolves the international community’s concerns with the Iranian nuclear program and end Tehran’s economic isolation. He mentioned that last year, the Iranian people elected Dr. Hassan Rouhani as their new president with the hope that he would strengthen Iran’s economy, improve the lives of the Iranian people, and engage constructively with the international community. “A comprehensive agreement on the nuclear issue—and an Iran that upholds universal rights, at home and abroad—would help move Iran along the new path that so many Iranians seek,” said President Obama. “Real diplomatic progress this year can help open up new possibilities and prosperity for the Iranian people for years to come.”