Since taking office, Obama has used his Nowruz message to speak directly to Iranians in an attempt to stake out common ground between the United States and the Islamic republic. But his remarks this year reflect the building pressure on Iran and the rising fear of an imminent military confrontation between Israel and the Islamic republic over Iran's nuclear enrichment program. In his first message, three years ago, Obama sought "the promise of a new beginning" with Tehran. This year's message coincided with efforts by the administration to sharpen the impact of economic sanctions aimed at Iran's rulers. The State Department announced Tuesday that it will grant exemptions from U.S. economic penalties to 11 countries that have voluntarily reduced their reliance on Iranian oil. Those nations - Japan and 10 European Union members - are traditional consumers of Iranian petroleum. All were potentially subject to new, congressionally mandated economic sanctions that penalize any foreign banks involved in oil transactions with the Central Bank of Iran. European countries have approved a boycott of all Iranian oil imports beginning July 1, and Japan has unilaterally agreed to reduce Iranian oil purchases by up to 22 percent. U.S. officials are negotiating with 12 other customers of Iran, including China, India and South Korea, to encourage cutbacks in Iranian oil purchases before June 28, when the U.S. sanctions are set to take effect. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton praised the 11 nations for showing "solidarity and their commitment to holding Iran accountable." Obama's more aggressive message this year reflects the increasing concern in Washington, Tel Aviv and other capitals about Iran's enrichment program, which Israel believes will be used to produce a nuclear weapon. In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this month, Obama argued against a military strike until the full set of economic sanctions takes effect against Iran this summer, a squeeze the president hopes will persuade Iran's Shiite Muslim leadership to give up the enrichment program. But Obama, facing a difficult reelection campaign this year that would be further complicated by a regional war in the oil-rich Middle East, has declared that the "window is closing" for a diplomatic solution. As he has in the past, Obama spoke directly to Iranians through his videotaped message. He suggested that Tehran must do more to protect Iranians" rights at a time when much of the Arab Middle East is engaged in democratic uprisings, known as the Arab Spring. He noted pointedly that "over the last year, we have learned once more that suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away." Obama also said "there is no reason for the United States and Iran to be divided from one another." He noted that the Iranian film "A Separation" won the Academy Award this year for best foreign film and that "from Facebook to Twitter - from cellphones to the Internet - our people use the same tools to talk to one another and to enrich our lives." He added: "Let me say again that if the Iranian government pursues a responsible path, it will be welcomed once more among the community of nations, and the Iranian people will have greater opportunities to prosper." Staff writer Joby Warrick contributed to this report.