Statement on the Observance of Nowruz

Today Jill and I send our best wishes to the millions of people around the world celebrating Nowruz, a time of reflection, renewal, and rebirth.

Generations of Americans have spread the hope of this holiday across every part of our Nation. We see it in the pastries and presents exchanged between family and friends. We hear it in the sound of children banging pots and in the laughs of families who've come together around the Haft-Sin table. And we feel it as communities gather to make this celebration such a joyous part of American culture, one that reflects the soul of who we are as a nation and reminds us that hope lies ahead.

This year, Nowruz comes at a difficult time for many, when this hope is needed more than ever. The United States will continue to stand with the courageous women of Iran, who are fighting for their freedoms. And together with our partners, we will hold Iranian officials to account for denying fundamental human rights. The war in Gaza has also inflicted terrible suffering on the Palestinian people, and we will continue to lead international efforts to get more humanitarian assistance to them, including urgently needed food, water, medicine and shelter.

We have decorated our Haft-Sin table at the White House to reflect our hopes and the potential and promise of the new year. And, as we mark the start of spring, we honor the diverse diaspora communities across our Nation, who have adapted old traditions anew to tell the ongoing story of America. To all who celebrate: Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak—we wish you a peaceful and joyous new year.