
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.
Advancing Peace & Diplomacy
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Advocating for Equitable Immigration
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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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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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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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Building Political Power
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Support Our Work
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 JCPOA Joint Commission Progress
The JCPOA survived a withering assault of Trump-era sanctions precisely because it remains strongly in the interest of all the parties that negotiated it, including the U.S. and Iran. Having come so far, no party can afford to let it slip away now.
Niac President Jamal Abdi Sits Down With KPFA
This week, NIAC President Jamal Abdi sat down with KPFA News to talk about the latest developments with JCPOA and the “shuttle diplomacy” that took place in Vienna on April 6th.
Obstacles to Access: A Conversation on Tech Freedom and Iran
On Friday, March 26, NIAC hosted a conversation with policymakers, Internet freedom advocates, and tech industry leaders on the policies and actions the new administration and the tech industry can adopt to ensure the U.S. does not help silence Iranian voices. The panel featured special remarks from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and a panel discussion with Mahsa Alimardani from ARTICLE19, Peter Micek of Access Now, Mike Linksvayer from GitHub, and Amir Rashidi from the Miaan Group, moderated by Mana Mostatabi of NIAC. This discussion was only the first step of many we can take to support the Iranian people in advancing their fight for free expression.
Siamak Namazi Has Spent Over 2,000 Days Imprisoned in Iran
The Namazi family issued another statement on April 3rd to mark 2,000 days that Siamak has spent, and continues to spend, in an Iranian prison. Not only has Siamak suffered the loss of his freedom and separation from his loved ones without cause—a painful injustice—he has also endured inhumane treatment, solitary confinement, and physical and psychological torment. Human rights advocates, U.S. officials, and American civil society organizations shared their support for the Namazi family on the terrible occasion and called for the release of Siamak Namazi and the rightful return of father and son home to the United States. Others whose unjust imprisonment overlapped with Siamak’s added their support, including Jason Rezaian and Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert who said Siamak’s release must be a priority of the Biden administration.
U.S. Civil Society Groups Call for Sanctions Relief
While the new Biden administration claims to center human rights in its foreign policy, it has continued policies that exacerbate the human cost of a deadly pandemic and undermine the principles of human rights. The Biden administration inherited the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” policy on Iran, which imposed a cruel sanctions program targeting Iran’s entire financial system in what amounts to the collective punishment of millions of ordinary Iranians.
Diplomatic Progress Towards a JCPOA Return
This week, diplomats from Iran and the U.S. convened in Vienna and hopeful signs emerged that each side is moving towards returning to JCPOA compliance. In Iran, COVID-19 deaths are on the rise again and Rouhani blames sanctions for obstructing vaccine procurement. Meanwhile, an Iranian ship was attacked in the Red Sea, while officials are set to unveil new nuclear advances.
Iran & China Sign Roadmap for Strategic Cooperation
Iran and China signed a roadmap for deeper ties this week, which has elicited severe outrage among many Iranians who believe it will turn Iran into a Chinese client state. Meanwhile, a controversial TV show currently airing targets Rouhani’s administration as having been infiltrated by foreign spies, while Rouhani this week called for a referendum.