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Trump, who has
also criticized the nuclear deal between Iran and western powers
negotiated during President Barack Obama's administration, did
not refer to the travel ban in his statement.
"Nowruz means 'new day' in Persian. It is an occasion to
celebrate new beginnings, a sentiment that is particularly
meaningful for so many Iranians who have come to our country in
recent decades to make a new start in a free land," Trump said
in a statement issued by the White House.
Nowruz is Iran's most important national event and is celebrated
with family gatherings, vacations and gift-giving.
"For many years, I have greatly enjoyed wonderful friendships
with Iranian-Americans, one of the most successful immigrant
groups in our country’s contemporary history," he said.
Trump has taken a hard line on immigration, both as a
presidential candidate and since taking office. He tried twice
with executive orders to prevent people from several
Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the United States,
and he has promised to build a wall on the U.S. border with
Mexico.
The latest order sought a 90-day ban on travel to the United
States by citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and
Yemen. Trump's administration has said it would appeal after a
federal judge struck down parts of the ban on the day it was set
to go into effect.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by James Dalgleish)
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