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U.S. - Iran Relations

Support Peaceful Solutions to the U.S.-Iran Conflict

  • NIAC opposes war with Iran because military conflict would imperil a democratic future for Iran, devastate Iran’s democracy and human rights movement, undermine U.S. national security, and strengthen hardliners in Iran’s government.
  • NIAC supports a policy of persistent strategic engagement with Iran that includes human rights as a core issue and addresses American and regional security concerns.

Obama FlagNIAC seeks a world in which the United States and a democratic Iran enjoy peaceful, cooperative relations. To this end, NIAC supports a policy of patient, strategic engagement that includes human rights as a core issue and addresses American and regional security concerns. Such an approach is the most effective way to protect U.S. national security while creating space for the Iranian people’s century long struggle for democracy.

To be successful, America’s Iran strategy must learn from the mistakes made with Iraq. In Iraq, the absence of serious diplomacy put the United States on a path to an unnecessary and avoidable war. The international community imposed indiscriminate sanctions that failed to advance key interests but devastated the civilian population, weakened civil society, and cemented the country’s dictatorial rule. Three decades of Iran policy have put the US on a similar path, and it is one that the United States can ill-afford to continue following.

NIAC seeks a new way forward because a military conflict with Iran would undermine U.S. national security, strengthen Iranian hardliners, and severely undercut Iran’s pro-democracy movement. NIAC rejects the notion that advancing US security interests and promoting the rights of the Iranian people are mutually exclusive, and instead believes that patient, forward-thinking diplomacy can achieve these two vital objectives simultaneously.

 

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Related Legislation & Resources

Legislation
 
Position
 
Resources
Incidents at Sea Resolution (H.Con.Res.94) - Calls for the negotiation of a security protocol to prevent incidents between the U.S. Navy and Iranian naval vessels operating in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.   Support   Bill text, Strait of Hormuz Fact Sheet, Expert Quotes & Analysis

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Related News

The Times of Israel: Senate Backs Israel in event of Strike on Iran Nuclear Weapon Program

"Washington and Tehran are stuck in vicious cycle of mutual escalation that can only be broken through the give and take of serious negotiations, not through further saber rattling,"said Jamal Abdi, NIAC's Policy Director.

APF: US House Panel Backs Stiff New Iran Sanctions

Pro-diplomacy group the National Iranian American Council decried the House and Senate measures as "saber rattling" that will merely stoke tensions with Iran.

Tell Obama to Lift Sanctions on Communications Tools

As Iran prepares for another election that is unlikely to be fair or free, it is time to end sanctions on personal communications devices that undermine the democratic aspirations of ordinary Iranians.

State Department Criticizes Iran on Lack of Religious Freedom

The International Religious Freedom Report describes a deterioration of respect for religious freedom by Iran's government, including through harassment, imprisonment, and discrimination of religious practices and minorities.

See more U.S. - Iran relations news >>

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Contact NIAC's Policy Team

The National Iranian American Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of the Iranian-American community. We accomplish our mission by supplying the resources, knowledge and tools to enable greater civic participation by Iranian Americans and informed decision making by policymakers.

US government officials and policymakers in need of rapid support can contact the NIAC policy team for in-depth information and analysis either by phone at 202.386.6325 or via email at policy@niacouncil.org. (Note: If you don't have a government (.gov) email address, please use our regular contact form. All non-government emails will be blocked by spam filters.)

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