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Washington DC - "If the only thing [the United States] talks about with the Iranians is the nuclear issue, then our efforts to get out of the last thirty years of futility will fail," said Ambassador John Limbert, a former hostage in the US Embassy in Tehran and currently a professor at the US Naval Academy.  The Obama administration needs to recognize that the US is engaged in "asymmetric negotiations" with Iran in which the two sides are seeking different results and engaging over different issues, he told the audience at NIAC's conference on Capitol Hill yesterday.

The second panel at the conference featured Amb. Limbert alongside former Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering and Senior Fellow at the Arms Control Association Greg Thielmann.  The discussion focused on the state of diplomatic negotiations with Iran and the West, as well as human rights in Iran.

Washington DC - "It is in the national interest of the United States to press the human rights issue in Iran," said Professor Mehrzad Boroujerdi, of the political science department at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.  His comments came as part of the first of two panel discussions at NIAC's Capitol Hill conference yesterday, which focused on the current domestic and human rights issues of Iran as well as the ongoing US diplomacy. 

The panel included Geneive Abdo, a fellow at the Century Foundation and a long-time reporter on Iran for The Economist and The Guardian, Dr. Hadi Ghaemi of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, and Professor Boroujerdi.

Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) has introduced a resolution expressing continued support for the Iranian people as they stand up for freedom, human rights, and fundamental elements of democracy.  The legislation, H.Res. 888, "condemns the brutal suppression of the Iranian people through censorship, imprisonment, and continued acts of violence" and calls on the international community to maintain robust communication with the Iranian people via the media, the Internet, and telecommunications.

Rep. Granger, as a founding member of the Trans-Atlantic Parliamentary Group, is also coordinating with members of the European Union Parliament and the Canadian Parliament to introduce similar resolutions in their respective bodies.  Thus, the initiative transcends any one country or government, uniting an coalition of nations in support of the principles Iranians are standing up to defend: those of freedom, human rights, and fundamental elements of democracy.

If these are principles that you support as well, ask your member of Congress to support H.Res. 888.

What is happening is ominously similar to what has happened in Iran - radical and extremist elements are increasingly dominating the public discourse, while the moderate center gets smeared into silence.

Here at NIAC, of course, we refuse to be silenced.

This article recently appeared in the Huffington Post.

In the usually wonky world of non-profit issue-advocacy organizations, a decidedly political campaign has been waged against foreign policy institutions that promote diplomacy over militarism.

Two relatively new organizations -- each covering distinctly opposite ends on the spectrum of Middle Eastern affairs -- have been the target of withering public relations attacks in recent weeks and months.

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), an organization that promotes diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Iran, sprung to prominence recently for its active media presence in the aftermath of Iran's disputed elections though its influence in the nation's capital had been felt long before then. But as NIAC's voice grew louder in foreign policy circles, so too did the vehemence of its critics.

Cleveland, OH - In September, Kirk L. Maynard, founder of puppeteer troupe Natural Bridges PPC, noticed that the International Marionette Union was seeking applications from puppeteers interested in performing at the 11^th International Student Puppet Theatre Festival, to be held in Tehran, Iran. Most would balk at this opportunity, citing a myriad of issues attributed to Iran, including the recent domestic unrest, but for Maynard, it was a no-brainer.

Washington, DC - A divided House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (IRPSA) today by voice vote. The lead sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the committee, Howard Berman (D-CA), said his overriding concern is preventing Iran from "acquiring the capacity to acquire nuclear arms."

IRPSA would expand unilateral, extraterritorial sanctions and target companies exporting refined petroleum to Iran or helping to develop Iran's oil refining industry. Before the hearing, Rep. Berman amended the legislation to make lifting the sanctions in it conditional on Iran ceasing all uranium enrichment.

Washington, DC- NIAC held a Capitol Hill briefing yesterday to discuss the likely consequences of new petroleum sanctions with House and Senate lawmakers and staff. The briefing came one day before the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved legislation that attempts to impose "crippling" sanctions on Iran. 

Hossein Ebneyousef, a consultant at International Petroleum Enterprises spoke about Iran's capability to adapt to sanctions measures targeting its petroleum sector.

Washington, DC- "The use of force is required to stop Iran's ongoing nuclear program because the other options have failed, are failing, and will fail," John Bolton, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), said last Friday as part of a briefing entitled "Should Israel Attack Iran?"  Fellow AEI pundit Michael Rubin decried what he calls the "politics of procrastination" by adding "diplomacy isn't a strategy, it's a tactic." 

Washington DC - Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) has introduced legislation emphasizing the threat of military strikes against Iran and expanding unilateral, extraterritorial sanctions against Iran. The bill declares “the United States is wholly capable, willing, and ready to use military force to prevent Iran from obtaining or developing a nuclear weapons capability.”

Franks’ bill, the “Peace Through Strength Act of 2009” (PTSA), also requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to Congress on the status of Iran’s weapons and nuclear programs, an outline of “military options toward the Government of Iran to counter a nuclear ballistic missile threat,” and the readiness level of US forces to carry those military options.  

Washington DC – “Assembling nuclear weapons is not as easy as building furniture from IKEA,” said Greg Thielmann of the Arms Control Association (ACA) at a press briefing held October 22. The briefing, on the future of Iran-U.S. negotiations, consisted of a panel of three experts, who drew a direct line from U.S. engagement with Iran to greater information and transparency regarding Iran’s nuclear program. In the panelists’ view, the most important thing the West stands to gain in the short term from engagement with Iran is new and valuable information about Iran’s activities.

Ambassador James Dobbins of the RAND Corporation said that “engagement is a virtue in its own right,” since it is only through engagement that the United States is able to collect information about the state of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. As more information is gathered, it will allow the Intelligence Community to make more accurate assessments regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities and intentions. Thielmann, a Senior Fellow at the ACA, said that achieving transparency on sites like Natanz and Qom should be the primary focus of the P5+1 countries.

Washington DC - The House of Representatives passed a resolution yesterday condemning the persecution of Baha’is by the government of Iran. House Resolution 175 was sponsored by Rep. Mark S. Kirk (R-IL), and passed with a vote of 407-2. The resolution condemns the Iranian government for violating the rights of members of the Baha’i minority, and also calls on Iran to release seven leaders of the Baha’i community who were arrested during the Spring of 2008.

In statement made after the resolution passed, Rep. Kirk said “Today, the House of Representatives sends a signal to the Iranian regime…To the dictators in Iran we say, release your political prisoners, especially release your Baha’i prisoners, and end your ignorant and uncultured persecution of the peaceful Baha’is.” 

Washington DC - The struggle to protect the Persepolis tablets continues. For three and a half years, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) has been the vanguard Iranian-American organization in the struggle to save the Persepolis Collection from forever disappearing into the hands of unknown bidders. As a record of one of history's great empires, the tablets are not only part of Iran's rich heritage but belong to all people regardless of their cultural background. Unfortunately, an ongoing lawsuit brought by victims of a Hamas bombing threatens to dismantle the Collection and sell the pieces.

The Iranian-American community must work together to ensure that an irreplaceable part of everyone's cultural history is protected. Last week, several Iranian-American organizations came together to shed light on this issue and inform our community of the efforts that have been made so far.

For Immediate Release

Washington DC - The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) condemns the Iranian Justice Ministry’s decision to sentence Iranian American Kian Tajbakhsh to 12 years in prison. On July 9, Mr. Tajbakhsh, a scholar of urban planning, was arrested at his home in Iran.

Mr. Tajbakhsh appeared at the mass trial of accused opposition leaders following the unrest of the highly questionable June 12 election. He was accused of contacting foreign agents and promoting activities dangerous to the government. During the trial, Mr. Tajbakhsh provided a vague confession which rights groups suspect was coerced, and which outlined his role in fomenting resistance to the June election in Iran.

NIAC stands behind the efforts of the United States to secure the release of Mr. Tajbakhsh, and strongly urges the Obama administration to intensify its efforts until Tajbakhsh’s rights are respected and upheld.

Washington DC - The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery takes us deep into the heart of divinity in Iran and Turkey during the 16^th and 17^th centuries in another fanciful exhibition entitled Falnama: The Book of Omens. The Ottomans and the Safavids looked to these large colorful manuscripts, in hopes of answering one of the most universal questions, "What will the Future Bring?"

The Sackler Gallery has brought together these works for the first time from Istanbul, New York, Dublin and Paris. These illustrated and rare manuscripts were used by sultans, shahs and everyday people to predict their futures. The fortunes are accompanied by beautiful images which are the key to unlocking the meaning of the augury. For example, images of the sun or Adam and Eve were probably a good sign, where an image of Mars, the God of war, was not surprisingly was an ominous omen. Dr. Massumeh Farhad, chief curator and the organizer of the exhibition, noted the universality of the books, "They appeal to our common desire to know what the future holds and our need for guidance and protection in an uncertain world. 

Washington DC - Come join Max Amini and Friends on Friday, October 23^rd and Saturday, October 24^th at the Bethesda Theater for a new twist on stand-up comedy!

Exotic Imports features 6 2^nd generation Middle Eastern-American entertainers – 5 comedians and 1 dancer – who promise to send you into never-ending fits of side-splitting laughter!

The party continues at Josephine for the Official After Party – complimentary entrance with your ticket from the show!

Washington DC - "China will be more secure if it lives in a world in which America's aspirations for democracy in Iran have failed," John Garver, professor at Georgia Institute of Technology said Tuesday in his assessment of China's growing recognition of Iran's political importance. Joined by Flynt Leverett, director of the New America Foundation's Iran Project, and Hillary Mann Leverett, CEO of Strategic Energy and Global Analysis (STRATEGA), Garver spoke at Johns Hopkins University Nitze School's discussion "China's Persian Gulf Dilemma and Deepening Relations with Iran."

Iranian-Americans speak out over death sentences for post-election detainees and execution of juvenile

For Immediate Release

Washington DC - The House of Representatives today approved a bill that permits state and local governments to divest any public funds from companies that do more than $20 million a year in business with Iran's energy sector. The bill, known as the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009, passed by a vote of 414 - 6.

Supporters of the bill, introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), believe that divestment and sanctions in general will help pressure Iran's government over its nuclear program. Frank said the bill makes it "very clear" that Americans are concerned about Iran's nuclear program, and the bill permits them to address their concerns.

Washington, DC - Deeply skeptical about the prospects for progress in US-Iran relations with the current Iranian government, Kenneth Pollack said last Wednesday the Obama administration would do better to "contain [Iran] until it works out its own problems and - like the Soviet Union - changes into something where we can have a better relationship." At the Columbus School of Law, Pollack, Director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at The Brookings Institution, said he supports the Obama administration's policy of engagement with Iran, noting that he was an early proponent of a "carrot and stick" approach. However, he now has little faith that the current Iranian government will be able to produce a working compromise.

Washington, DC - 108 scholars from the Iranian Diaspora have issued a statement about US-Iranian negotiations, recognizing the need for talks while emphasizing "a constructive dialogue with Iran must address the Iranian regime's recent brutalities." The signatories express their concern "about the neglect of human rights violations in Iran by the rest of the world" and warn countries that "the Iranian public is carefully following the interactions of foreign governments with those who violated their civil rights."

Los Angeles, CA - A delegation of prominent Iranian filmmakers will make their way to Los Angeles next week to present and discuss a series of Iranian films from October 9-16. Seyyed Mohsen Mirkarimi, administrator of Iran's House of Cinema (Khaneh Cinema), will join the delegation upon invitation by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the UCLA Film & Television Archive. While UCLA is known for its Iranian film screenings, rarely do the film-makers actually attend. Tickets for the program called "Up Close and Personal: Iranian Filmmakers in Their Own Words" are only $5 per screening and can be purchased in advance.

Washington DC - The Senate has unanimously passed a resolution urging the Iranian government to permit three American hikers who have been detained in Iran to contact and reunite with their families. The resolution was introduced by Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) on Tuesday and passed the same day.

Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Josh Fattal were arrested by Iranian forces on July 31, 2009. The trio had been hiking in the mountains of northern Iraq when they apparently strayed across the border. Family members of the hikers have said that they believe the border crossing was accidental. The Iranian government, however, has said that the three Americans ignored the warnings of Iranian border guards.

Washington DC - Obama administration officials said in a hearing yesterday that they want Congress to wait before enacting further sanctions on Iran. The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs held the hearing to discuss the potential effectiveness of sanctions for preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons. Issues relating to the need to address human rights abuses in Iran and the possibility for blowback from the Iranian people due to the imposition of sanctions were also discussed.

Responding to a question posed by Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg said that the Obama administration has “not asked [Congress] for additional measures” against Iran, and that the White House would like Congress to allow for flexibility in dealing with the Iranian government. Corker responded that he agreed that “we don’t need to be telling you guys what to do, yet.” Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) also said that he believed Steinberg did not want sanctions to pass through Congress.

After leaving NIAC in 2008, Ali joined Persia House, a division of Booz Allen Hamilton, as an Iran analyst.  He will also be an expert witness for a briefing on Capitol Hill on Friday, October 2, as part of the Stimson Center's Security for a New Century program, sponsored by Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Ben Nelson (D-NE). The event will address the internal implications of Iran's post-election crisis.

Washington DC - On the announcement of the P5+1 meeting with Iran on October 1 and the initiation of diplomatic talks, the National Iranian American Council issued the following statement.

On October 1, the P5+1, consisting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, are scheduled to begin talks with Iran. The National Iranian American Council strongly urges that human rights play an important role in these talks. NIAC continues to believe that diplomacy with Iran is the right path to pursue as it has the highest likelihood of resolving US-Iran tensions over the nuclear issue, but it would be a mistake to engage with Iran without including human rights on the agenda.

Washington DC - The violence that erupted in the aftermath of the Iran elections left very few around the world untouched. Increasingly, US policymakers have looked to the Iranian-American community and to National Iranian American Council for feedback and guidance. As a grass-roots organization representing Americans of Iranian descent, NIAC in turn depends on feedback and surveys of its membership to determine its priorities and inform its directions. At no time has the input of the NIAC membership been more important than during the tumultuous post-election period.

Contact: Goli Fassihian

Tel: 202 386 6325 

Washington DC - The National Iranian American Council condemns the mass “show trial” of opposition figures and systematic abuse of detainees by Iranian authorities which have led to numerous deaths and injuries in custody. NIAC believes these repressive tactics are aimed at misleading the Iranian public about post-election events and intimidating Iranians from further dissent or activism.

“These show trials add to the long list of violations committed by Iranian authorities,” said NIAC President Trita Parsi. “There should be no illusion in Tehran about where world public opinion stands on these outrageous trials and accusations.”

Tel: 202 215 0998

For immediate release

Washington, DC, Oct 3, 2008 -- The National Iranian American Council, working in partnership with a coalition of grassroots NGOs successfully defeated a Congressional resolution that would take a decisive step towards war with Iran.

"Stopping this dangerous resolution is a significant victory for the Iranian-American community," said Emily Blout, Legislative Director at the National Iranian American Council. "It is also a testament to the American people's opposition to another war in the Middle East."

Washington DC - What do former Under Secretary of State Tom Pickering, Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) and Jim Moody (D-WI), comedian and actor Maz Jobrani, author Reza Aslan and Professor R.K. Ramazani have in common? They all serve together with ten other prominent academics and professionals on NIAC's new Board of Advisors.

NIAC has issued a position statement on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported a significant increase in human rights violations in Iran in the past few years. The statement expresses grave concern about the human rights situation in Iran and urges the government of Iran to respect the internationally recognized rights of its citizens.

As the human rights situation in Iran deteriorated, NIAC consulted its membership for guidance. As the largest grass-roots organization representing Americans of Iranian descent, NIAC regularly seeks direction from its membership to determine its priorities. The NIAC membership voted in favor of raising the organization’s profile in speaking out against human rights violations in Iran.

Washington DC - Thousands of priceless artifacts from Persepolis that are on loan to the University of Chicago risk being auctioned off to the highest bidder. In an effort to defend the collective cultural heritage of Iranian Americans, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) has secured pro bono representation from with Mayer Brown LLP with connection to the case, Rubin v. Islamic Republic of Iran.

“The Iranian-American community has felt helpless in face of this threat to their historic heritage,” said Trita Parsi, NIAC President. “With Mayer Brown’s help, we are creating an avenue for the community to have their concerns and interests considered in this legal battle.”

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Washington DC - NIAC’s funding has grown significantly over the last few years. The structure of NIAC’s financing reflectsthe organization's grass-roots nature and the strong support it enjoys in the Iranian-American community. NIAC is an organization for Iranian Americans because it’s funded by Iranian Americans. At the same time, we have been fortunate enough to receive support and grants from major US and Iranian-American foundations such as Ploughshares Fund, Colombe Foundation, National Endowment for Democracy, Tides Foundation, Kenbe Foundation, Pluralism Fund, Open Society Institute, Connect US, Parsa Foundation, the Hand Foundation, Ahoora Foundation, the Houtan Foundation and the Eurasia Foundation.

Washington DC - The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) has been the target of several erroneous, maliciously defamatory opinion pieces by Kenneth Timmerman and Hassan Daioleslam in Frontpage Magazine. The articles are riddled with inaccuracies, misquotations, incorrect links and references to figures that played no role in NIAC's inception, operations, or its development over the years.