Part II: Khamenei, Rouhani on Nowruz

March 21, 2016

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani issued the televised statements to the Iranian people on the occasion of Nowruz, Persian New Year. Both focused on the importance of economic improvements for the coming year. Khamenei accused the United States of not fulfilling its pledges under the nuclear deal citing holdups on Iran regaining access to the banking system and its assets. Rouhani, however, said the nuclear agreement “broke the chains of sanctions” and “prepared the ground” for economic activity. The following are excerpts from their speeches. 

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
 
 
President Hassan Rouhani

Nowruz means renewal and the end of obsolescence, Nowruz means washing hearts clear from grudges, Nowruz means the start of efflorescence and in these hours, we ask the Almighty God for Nowruz-like days for our country and spring-like seasons for all our lifetime.
We ask Him to familiarize our minds and tongues more with friendship and reconciliation which are the traditions of Nowruz; to keep away anger from our looks, conflict from our words, and fury from our behaviors and we shall ask him to let us sing the song of unity against any division and strife, no matter what religion we practice.
 
The past year, was a year replete with honor and memorable memories for our nation. From its beginning when the Supreme Leader of the Revolution said “the Year of Empathy and Rapport”, the same empathy and rapport and unity and integrity brought us the gift of great victories. What the world viewed as an excuse for pushing threats against the Iranian nation, namely nuclear activities, turned into a symbol for partnership between the world nations and beloved Iran. What the world viewed yesterday as a no-entry zone, now has turned into a valuable attempt before which everybody is humble and officially recognizes.
 
Our nation led the JCPOA to a proper end, broke the chains of sanctions, and prepared the ground for activities in economic fields. Sanctions aimed at banks, oil, finance, money, petrochemicals, insurance, transport, and all nuclear-related sanctions were lifted and the groundwork is readier for our people’s economic activities.
 
In the same year, the great nation of Iran marked a great epic and proved Iran’s national authority, peace, and stability to the whole world in Feb. 26 elections. The year that passed was the year of partnership, activity, success before the big powers and the year of paving the way for the country’s efflorescence in all fields.
 
Although the past year was accompanied with hardships and difficulties, I talked less to our dear nations about last year’s difficulties and instead we tried harder with my co-workers to get past the hardships. We may be able to claim that we had the best conditions among oil exporters; in terms of peace, ease of inflation and the stock market. With God’s attention, with all the hardships we did not reach to the Central Bank and with His favor and people’s attempts, we finished the year with all its ups and downs and in the current year which is our year of hope and attempt, without a doubt we all can create an Iran which is worthy of this great nation.
 
I once again reach the great Iranian nation; I hope and I am sure that with each other’s cooperation and domestic attempt and hard work and with constructive interaction with the world we can enter the path of prosperity, attempt, and growth and economic activity. God willing, we will be able to reach a growth level twice as the mean growth of 10 years.
We can reach the 5-per cent growth with public attempt and hard work; a growth that is more than our neighboring countries, a growth that can spark an economic boost and get our unemployed workers back to the factories and fields, a growth that can take our dear educated young people to businesses. What matters to our nation, is sustainable employment and this will begin with ‘JCPOA 2’ next year.
 
Although our great nation has always been pioneers, ‘JCPOA 2’ was begun in Feb. 26 of last year. ‘JCPOA 2’ is the same Joint National Action in the country which will start with unity, reconciliation and empathy; a JCPOA which will start with morality before economy. Our revolution was for Islam and morality, and our prophets’ appointment was for morality. Our prophet said that his appointment was only for competing moralities. In our revolutionary society, there should be no trace of lies, accusations, mistrust, bad language and irritability. In our society, there should be no trace of corruption. We should ask the Almighty God for a moral, happy, fervent year and a year for empathy and rapport for building our dear Islamic Iran.
 
O God, make these happy days a reason for our country’s durability and back our wisdom with our hope, letting us to walk our Iran through dilemmas that are the source of hardship for the people.
 
O God, help us to learn moderation and exhilaration from spring.
 
O God, empower our government to remain the guardian to martyrs’ blood and make the constitution the base for serving the people.
 
In the end, I would like to sincerely thank all of those who are not beside their families for the sake of serving their fellow countrymen and those who are trying to keep our borders and bring peace to our societies, all forces in paramedics, the police, and all those who serve the Nowruz travelers and our people; I would like to especially congratulate the New Year 1395 to them and finish my words with the name and memory of Her Holiness Fatima al-Zahra (SA), with whose birthday this year starts and finishes.
 
Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo
 
Nowruz is a comprehensive cultural and social system which reflects joyfulness, togetherness, caring of nature, cultivation of soul and soil, moderation and compassion, and cleaning and caring of home and self. It heralds hope, happiness, light, life and love!
The beauty of Nowruz rests in the way that it links human being with nature. It calls for harmony with nature and respect for environment. Raising awareness on the environment and its protection is an integral part of Nowruz; and such opportunity needs to be appreciated in our common endeavor towards achieving sustainable development goals or SDGs.
 
Meanwhile, this aged celebrated festivity has another pleasant face. It stirs common sentiments of humanity and urges solidarity among people regardless of all seemingly divisive racial, ethnic, economic and political factors. It still connects and unifies nations in a way that no other means can do. In one word it promotes the culture of peace.
 
The narrative of Nowruz is based on moderation; moderation in the length of day and night; moderation in the way that human being should live. In fact, in a world filled with radicalism and extremism, ravaged by monsters of terrorism, war, death and destruction, Nowruz carries the messages of peace and reconciliation.
 
Following the footsteps of our ancestors, in these moments which correspond with the commencement of the first day of creation, we also celebrate this joyful occasion that calls for respect to nature and environment as well as friendship and cooperation among our nations. We praise Nowruz for the opportunity it offers to us to demonstrate the true beauties of togetherness, peace, friendship and solidarity among our peoples.
 
Let us pray that peace and righteousness prevail in the world. May God grants you and your beloved ones all the joy, happiness and prosperity you deserve.
—March 22, 2016, in a statement