In a greeting to Iranians marking the Persian new year, U.S. President Barack Obama told them this year represents the “best opportunity in decades” to pursue a different relationship between the United States and the Islamic Republic.

Iranians are celebrating Nowruz as a March 31 deadline approaches for reaching a framework agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting international sanctions against Tehran.

“This moment may not come again soon. I believe that our nations have an historic opportunity to resolve this issue peacefully, an opportunity we should not miss,” Obama said in video remarks released Thursday.

The president said Iran’s leaders should choose a “reasonable” nuclear deal, which he said would end Iran’s international isolation and provide “greater opportunities for the Iranian people.”

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