| NIAC Welcomes U.S. Interests Section in Iran |
| Written by NIAC Staff | |
| Friday, 18 July 2008 | |
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Contact: Goli Fassihian Tel: 202 215 0998 For immediate release:
The National Iranian American Council welcomes U.S. plans to establish an interests section in Iran. The new section will help facilitate much needed people-to-people exchanges and reverse the decline in American soft power in Iran. "This step is long-overdue," said Dr. Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council. "It demonstrates that the U.S. does not have any enmity with the people of Iran." Despite poor relations between the U.S. and Iran, most Iranians tend to hold favorable views of America, American values and the American people. Iranians were the only people in the region to hold spontaneous candle-light vigils in support of America after the attacks on 9/11. American soft power in Iran has been relatively strong due in large part to the number of Iranians educated in the U.S. In recent years, however, that number has dwindled - and with it, the reservoir of Iranian goodwill - given difficulties faced by Iranians in obtaining travel visas to the U.S. Opening an interests section in Iran is a first necessary step towards reversing this negative trend. "A US interests section will strengthen ties between Americans and Iranians, improve understanding of Iranian culture and society, and present a positive American face to the Iranian people," said Goli Fassihian, NIAC spokeswoman. "We encourage the two governments to work closely and quickly to establish this important diplomatic foothold."The Iranian government has maintained an interests section in Washington, D.C. since 1980. The plan for a US interests section comes at a time when improved lines of communication between Washington and Tehran are critical to forestall the possibility of military conflict. # # #
NIAC is a Washington, DC-based 501 c(3) non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of the Iranian-American community. NIAC is funded through donations from the Iranian-American community as well as grants from the Pluralism Fund, the Kenbe Foundation, the Ploughshares Fund, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, among others. For more information about the organization, please visit www.niacouncil.org, email us at info@niacouncil.org or send a fax to (202) 386-6409.
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