Nowruz Greetings!
/Dear AIC Friends and Supporters,
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff of the American Iranian Council, we wish to take this opportunity to share with you the joy of celebrating the Iranian New Year, Nowruz. We at the AIC wish you the best in the year 1404 (2025), a year filled with peace, joy and prosperity, and we hope that the New Year will usher in better US-Iran relations.
Nowruz, literally the new day or New Year, is a celebration of Vernal Equinox which begins on or about March 21 -- marking the Sun's crossing of the Equator and the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. A time of renewal and reunion, as well as giving, Nowruz is widely celebrated by Iranians of all ideological and political persuasions and ethnic backgrounds, including Muslims, Christians, Jews, Baha’is, Kurds, Azeris, Baluchis, Turkmen, Lurs, Arabs, and others.
Nowruz is rooted in the tradition of Zoroastrian belief system, the pre-Islamic religion of the Iranian people, and it has been celebrated by Iranians and all the major cultures of ancient Mesopotamia for over 3000 years. Nowruz is also enthusiastically celebrated by Iranian-Americans and other Iranian expatriates throughout the world. People in Persian-Turkish speaking regions and parts of the Southwest Asia and Europe celebrate Nowruz as well.
In 2009, The United Nations recognized Nowruz as an International Day, following the UNESCO’s lead to include Nowruz as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The US Congress, too, has passed a resolution recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz. The US President also sends Nowruz Greetings to Iranians, including Iranian Americans. The AIC is grateful to these and other institutions, as well as to the President, for their gracious recognition of the Iranian New Year.
We are hoping that President Trump will take the 1404 Nowruz opportunity to reiterate his commitment to a more just and hopeful future for all Iranians and advance his initiatives with Iran based on mutual interest and respect. We also hope that the Iranian government will take President Trump on his words about the greatness of the Iranian people and history and respond with a message of willingness for a changed relationship between the two great nations.
Thanks to your continued support, since its inception in 1991, the Council has steadfast followed its mission to achieve better US-Iran relations through constructive engagement. Towards that aim, we have organized high-powered conferences with influential leaders, raised the level of debate, produced quality publications, expanded our programs, and engaged with decision-makers in both countries and globally. Our weekly AIC Iran Digest is a great source of information, as is our AIC Iran Update, which provides analysis by young grad and undergrad Americans and US-Iran relations experts.
We seriously hope that the 1404 (2025) would be the year diplomacy and peace will prevail. Best regards and Happy New Year!
The AIC Team
