US President Congratulates Iranian Nation on Nowruz

Obama said in his Saturday message that Nowruz is going to be celebrated at the White House once again.

“In a few weeks, we’ll bring out our own Haft Sin. There’ll be Sabzi Polo with fish. Maybe some Nan Berenji,” the US president noted.

He further cited a famous poem by the “great (Iranian) poet Fereydoon Moshiri), which read, “Open the windows, for the kind breeze is celebrating the birthday of the flowers, and spring, on each and every branch, next to each leaf, has lit candles!”

Obama went on to say that he is seizing the opportunity once again to “speak directly to the people of Iran about how we might open a new window and begin a new relationship between our countries.”

“Now for the first time in decades, there’s a chance for a different future. Over the years, you’ve heard me say that the United States was prepared to engage with Iran in a state of mutual interest and mutual respect. Well, that’s exactly what we did,” he added.

“In the last few years, our diplomats and nuclear scientists sat down together and negotiated face to face. And last summer, along with our international partners, we reached the historic deal on Iran’s nuclear program,” Obama noted, referring to a recent nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, which terminated all nuclear-related anti-Iran sanctions.

He said the deal would mean “more opportunities for Iranians to sell their exports including textiles and agricultural goods to the world,” adding that Americans are eager to buy more of Iran’s beautiful Persian carpets, caviar, pistachios, and saffron.

“More tourists will visit historic sites like Shiraz, Tabriz, and Isfahan, and spend their money in your shops and restaurants,” he went on to say.

Obama also referred to the disputes between the two nations, saying that the United States continues to have profound differences with the Iranian government, and that the JCPOA (nuclear deal) has never been intended to resolve all of them.

“But even as our two governments continue to have serious disagreements, the fact that we are now talking to each other on a regular basis for the first time in decades, gives us an opportunity, a window, to resolve other issues,” he added.

“As we do, I firmly believe that we can continue to expand the connections between the American and Iranian people,” Obama noted.

He also referred to his upcoming visit to Cuba, saying that his visit “would be a reminder that even after decades of mistrust, it is possible for old adversaries to start down a new path.”

“Open the windows, for the kind breeze is celebrating the birthday of the flowers, and spring, on each and every branch, next to each leaf, has lit candles!”

He finally congratulated Iranian people on the occasion, and expressed the hope that the friendship and ties between American and Iranian people would continue to grow.