NIAC Statement on Iranian Foreign Minister’s Comments on Trump Letter
March 20, 2025
Washington, DC – NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello issued the following statement regarding comments made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who addressed U.S. President Donald Trump’s Letter to the Iranian Supreme Leader: “Araghchi’s comments shine a light on Trump’s early diplomatic approach to Iran, which has struck dueling notes of pressure and opportunities for mutual benefit through diplomacy. While the Supreme Leader rejected negotiations in response to the Trump’s administration’s reimposition of “maximum pressure,” Iran’s Foreign Minister appeared to crack the door open for talks. In signaling that Iran will not engage in direct negotiations with the U.S. while maximum pressure sanctions and military threats persist, Araghchi’s position does not discount the possibility that Iran and the U.S. could negotiate indirectly through mediators. “Both the U.S. and Iran have much to gain from direct negotiations and a deal, but seem more committed to appearing tough than doing what needs to be done to secure their interests. For the U.S., threats and sanctions are far more likely to turn Iran away from the negotiating table – and push toward war – than to convince Iran of the benefits of negotiation. Rather than continuing blindly down this path that will make
Social Media Advisory Ahead of Travel Ban and Amid Escalating Legal Threats
March 19, 2025
Given recent incidents and the likely reimposition of the travel ban, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) is issuing an advisory recommending that foreign nationals in the United States who have been active politically consider taking extra precautions given escalating legal threats being pursued by the current U.S. administration. These legal threats violate fundamental Constitutional protections, which apply to all persons inside the U.S. regardless of immigration status, including for free speech. As these clear Constitutional violations are being litigated and ultimately, we hope, halted by the courts, we believe many may want to consider precautionary measures to better protect themselves. Specifically, we recommend all Iranian nationals in the United States who are not citizens – including legal permanent residents and individuals on temporary visas: exercise extreme caution when commenting on political matters on social media, particularly regarding the war on Gaza, Israel and U.S. policy toward Iran; for foreign nationals that have been involved in activism that has been critical of U.S. Middle East policy, consider further measures including locking social media accounts/making them private and deleting past posts; and consider additional precautionary measures including reviewing your rights, consulting with immigration lawyers, speaking with digital rights and digital security
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“This bill is very concerning because it’s the beginning of a process of criminalizing something that is very normal for many people, which is traveling to Iran,” said Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council. “If you’re an American citizen, the government should not be controlling where you can travel.”
"The decision by Israel to conduct that strike, I do think was extremely reckless. And I think it is just a question of whether it was reckless out of, you know, negligence or hubris, or was it deliberately reckless? And, you know, my, my great fear is that it really was -- the intention was -- to provoke Iran, whether it's to take the focus off of what is happening in Gaza, whether it is to regionalize the war and force the U.S. to enter directly to confront Iran."
Ryan Costello, policy director at NIAC, warned that if the US joins Israel in reprisal strikes, the results could be catastrophic. “It’s really reckless and would certainly plunge the entire region into a disastrous and bloody conflict,” he told Al Jazeera.
Ryan Costello, policy director at NIAC, warned that if the US joins Israel in reprisal strikes, the results could be catastrophic. “It’s really reckless and would certainly plunge the entire region into a disastrous and bloody conflict,” he told Al Jazeera.
“The fact that a documented cult-like organization with a history of terrorism, human rights abuses, and committing atrocities alongside Saddam Hussein can get endorsed by lawmakers in Washington is a testament to how much money and power is behind the pro-war with Iran infrastructure here,” says Jamal Abdi, head of the National Iranian American Council.
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