Today marks the begining of the Nowruz holidays, the Iranian secular New Year celebration that apparently dates back to Persian times (it is also celebrated in Afghanistan and Kurdistan). Like any New Year celebration, it's a time for wiping the slate clean. In that spirit, President Obama has taped a Nowruz message -- which presidents do on many major cultural holidays -- that includes a special message for Iran -- which presidents don't do so often:
So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran's leaders. We have serious differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community. This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect.
You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right -- but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create.
A lot of this is familiar rhetoric, but I thought that this line -- "this process will not be advanced by threats" -- was interesting, giving the noises in the administration and Dennis Ross' expressed predeliction for starting engagement off with further sanctions. Perhaps the phrase was simply meant as a warning to Iranian leadership. It will be very interesting to see their reaction, that of the Iranian public, and if the embeddable YouTube video (available with Persian captions) will spread in the Iranian blogosphere. The full transcript of the president's remarks are after the jump.
Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak, everybody!
UPDATE: Iran offers a "cautious welcome."
-- Tim Fernholz
