Areas of Work
From being the trusted voice on U.S.- Iran relations, to pushing forth legislation that protects individuals of Iranian heritage from systematic discrimination, to celebrating our cultural heritage, NIAC creates a lasting impact in the lives of the members of our community.
Peace & Diplomacy
Advancing Peace & Diplomacy
An empowered Iranian-American community can advance policies that build precedent-setting infrastructures that incentivize peace and diplomacy, not only between the U.S. and Iran, but across the global stage. Read more ›
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Equitable Immigration
Advocating for Equitable Immigration
Ensuring that Iranians have the same opportunities as other nationals to make the U.S. their home can only make our country greater. Read more ›
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Civil Rights
Protecting Civil Rights
America’s founders enshrined the inalienable rights of all people in our Constitution and Americans have fought for generations to secure and protect those rights. Read more ›
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Human Rights
Spotlighting Human Rights
Raising up the struggles faced by Iranian human rights defenders and holding the Iranian government to international human rights standards is essential to building a future in which the U.S. and Iran enjoy positive relations. NIAC consistently condemns human rights violations by Iran’s government and calls for all prisoners of conscience to be released. Read more ›
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Community & Culture
Celebrating Community & Culture
NIAC takes immense pride in the rich tapestry that makes up the Iranian-American community and culture. Our heritage provides us common ground to grow as a community as we trailblaze in the U.S. Read more ›
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Political Power
Building Political Power
NIAC works to build political power so that Iranian Americans and our allies have influence on the decisions made by our government and can advance our values through civic and political engagement. Read more ›
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Support Our Work
Your contribution to NIAC helps support our work to champion priorities of the Iranian-American community.
NIAC is funded by the Iranian-American community and prominent American foundations. NIAC does not receive funds from the United States government nor from the Iranian government.
Contributions made to NIAC are 100% tax-deductible. Contributions made to NIAC Action are not tax-deductible.
Press Room
NIAC Statement on Continued Vienna Talks
This is a favorable time to reseal the deal on the JCPOA. We call on the parties to close the gaps that have narrowed in subsequent rounds of talks in Vienna and agree to a process that brings the U.S. and Iran back into full compliance with the original bargain.
NIAC Signs Letter to Administration to Halt Illegal Palestinian Displacement
The National Iranian American Council signed onto the following letter from over 100 organizations urging the Biden administration to press for Israel to halt the illegal and forced displacement of Palestinian residents from Sheikh Jarrah, which precipitated the dangerous escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians that the world has witnessed this week. We condemn without reservation the violence from Israel’s armed forces, armed Palestinian groups like Hamas, and mob attacks that have targeted civilians along sectarian lines. Populations across the Middle East deserve peace and security, and only sincere diplomacy – not military escalation – can deliver it. We call on the Biden administration to immediately engage in more robust diplomacy, including a strong push for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, necessary to address the root causes of the cycles of violence across the region.
NIAC Continues to Engage PayPal and Venmo on Community’s Concerns with Account Freezes
The pervasive effect of sanctions is evident in everyday life for Iranian Americans. Stories of account freezes and bank account closures for Iranian Americans have proven all too common. One of the financial institutions responsible for many of the complaints from our members is Venmo, which routinely reviews transactions involving words with connections to sanctioned states. It is often a painful reminder of how our community has been vilified in the United States that simply using certain words associated with Iran in a transaction description could be flagged for further review or cause accounts to be frozen.
The Violence of Homophobia and Tragedy of Alireza Fazeli Monfared
Alireza Fazeli Monfared was only 20-years old and just beginning his adult life. Any life taken so violently is appalling, but the case of Alireza is tragic for so many reasons. That he died at the hands of his own family members, in a country that criminalizes him instead of protecting him, that he died so young, but most of all because he was killed for nothing more than being himself. Being gay is not a crime, it is a sickness or reason to feel ashamed. With Pride around the corner, the case of Alireza reminds us of the continued struggle for LGBTQ+ rights around the world. We must continue the fight not for tolerance, but for acceptance, and support our LGBTQ+ community so that they may live with the freedom and pride they deserve.
Iranian Prisoner of Conscience Arash Sadeghi Released
On May 1st, welcome news was reported of Arash Sadeghi’s release from prison in Iran, after serving nearly six years as a prisoner of conscience. Sadeghi is a well-known young activist in Iran who was arrested in 2016 on spurious charges such as “collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the state,” which fits a disturbing pattern of repression by Iranian authorities against activists.
Registration Period for Presidential Candidates Begins
Presidential aspirants have begun registering with the Interior Ministry amid controversy over new criteria by the Guardian Council over who can run. Conservative and reformist analysts are debating who they think would fare best in the election, while the foreign ministry has confirmed talks with Saudi Arabia and says the U.S. accepts most of what Iran seeks in the Vienna talks.
IRGC Commander Says Israel Vulnerable
This week, the IRGC’s top commander gave an interview talking about what he says are Israel’s security vulnerabilities. President Rouhani made promises that sanctions would be removed and Iranians vaccinated before the end of his term. Meanwhile, Khamenei strongly reprimanded Zarif and the Guardian Council set new restrictions on who can run for president.