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Iranian American Voter Outreach Report
NIAC's latest report reveals that an overwhelming majority of Iranian Americans — 75.2% — believe that preventing war with Iran should be a top priority for the next U.S. president.
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NIAC 2024 Post-Election Symposium
On November 12, NIAC hosted a Post-Election Symposium to provide an exclusive, first-hand analysis of the election results and what they mean for advocates of peace, civil rights, and democracy.
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Responding to Trump’s Win and the Road Ahead
NIAC Action Executive Director Jamal Abdi has issued a statement following Donald Trump's election victory.
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Demand No War with Iran!
President Biden and Members of Congress need to be hearing the clear demand right now – No War with Iran. Send them a message and call them now to urge them to support diplomacy and oppose further escalation.
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Ceasefire. NOW.
End the War in Gaza, Prevent Regional War with Iran
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Iranian Americans Finally Gain Recognition in U.S. Census!
After decades of research, education and advocacy by NIAC and many others, the next Census will officially include Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) as a category option, with “Iranian” as a subcategory.
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Ending Banking Discrimination
Inside the class action lawsuit against Bank of America for discriminating against Iranian Americans
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Latest Updates

NIAC Sends Letter to Rep. Van Drew to Retract False Claims on “Iranian Mothership”

December 12, 2024

Washington, D.C. – National Iranian American Council (NIAC) President Jamal Abdi sent a letter to Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NC) today urging that he retract his false speculation on Fox News alleging that an “Iranian mothership” off the East Coast was sending drones into the airspace of New Jersey. This bizarre and false pronouncement on a major American news network with millions of viewers has been refuted by the Pentagon. The letter notes Rep. Van Drew’s commentary was reckless and irresponsible, inflating threats from Iran and dipping into hysteria. As the letter states: “While we recognize your interest in getting to the bottom of the phenomena of drones operating in the New Jersey airspace, spreading falsehoods that spark fear and play on the spectre of Iranian military confrontation at a time when concerns of war with Iran are heightened is profoundly reckless. Misinformation and faulty intelligence about the capabilities and intent of foreign countries have been used to start reckless wars that drained the U.S. of blood and treasure in the past, and Americans do not want another such military adventure.”  The full letter text is below:

NIAC Welcomes Inclusion of Provision Supporting Internet Freedom for Iranians

December 9, 2024

Washington, DC – Section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual “must-pass” defense policy bill, contains provisions intended to support internet freedom in Iran. The National Iranian American Council views these provisions favorably, and has long worked to ensure that U.S. policy supports – rather than actively hinders – the ability of the Iranian people to communicate and share information via the internet without being subjected to censorship, surveillance and internet blackouts.  “NIAC is pleased that Congress has included a vital provision to support internet freedom in Iran in this year’s annual defense authorization act, which is widely expected to pass in the days to come,” said NIAC President Jamal Abdi. “The people of Iran deserve to communicate freely online without efforts by the Iranian government to surveil, track and repress their free expression.” Abdi continued, “Of deep concern, the 2022 Woman, Life Freedom movement and earlier protests have been marked by extensive violations of human rights, including the throttling of the internet amid the killing of protesters. It is important that the international community and in particular the United States work to prevent internet blackouts in Iran and throughout the world, and ensure that policies like broad

NIAC Statement on Assad Regime Collapse

December 8, 2024

Washington, DC – NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello issued the following statement regarding reports that Bashar Al Assad has fled Syria and the Assad family’s reign has collapsed:  “Assad’s government was a brutal dictatorship that engaged in heinous acts of repression and torture. We hope his fall can bring Syrians a government that respects their rights and reflects their desires. We celebrate the liberation of political prisoners who were long tortured by the government, in some cases for decades, in the most heinous conditions. At the same time, a power vacuum risks threatening the people of Syria and the region with more chaos and violence, and the potential prominence of groups with historic ties to al-Qaeda and ISIS underscores the risks that the near future holds.  “There is a message in Assad’s collapse for Iran’s rulers: a country run solely through the state’s monopoly on violence is inherently unstable. Iran faces deep grievances in society, and the government’s tool of first resort is repression rather than finding a way to improve the lives of its people via economic improvement and social reform. Revolution often seems impossible up to the point when it is inevitable, as Assad’s rapid fall demonstrates. The

NIAC Statement on Lebanon Ceasefire Agreement

November 26, 2024

Washington, DC – Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement amid reports that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire to halt the conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 3,700 in Lebanon: “We welcome the news of a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and hope this agreement will end the suffering of ordinary civilians and set the stage for a broader cessation of conflict across the region. The incoming Trump administration should take note of the signal Iran is sending in helping support this negotiated settlement. When combined with reports of a very early meeting with Iranian officials during Trump’s transition, and declarations from both Trump and Iranian officials of openness to negotiations, it appears that both sides may be seriously interested in negotiations – unlike eight years ago. This ripe environment should be capitalized on, but risks being spoiled by hawks in the incoming administration. “The U.S. needs to build on today’s limited win and prevent the violence from re-erupting, while at the same time working to secure a durable ceasefire to the conflict in Gaza and to resolve broader regional challenges with Iran. The significance of this negotiation

"I have long believed, just as NIAC does, that diplomacy is our most important tool for advancing our country’s security and prosperity, and look forward to continuing to work together." - Senator Bernie Sanders
"I have long believed, just as NIAC does, that diplomacy is our most important tool for advancing our country’s security and prosperity, and look forward to continuing to work together."
- Senator Bernie Sanders
"NIAC's ability to engage, organize, and grow political power within the Iranian-American community will help us to build a brighter, safer, and more just future that makes us all proud."- Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
"NIAC's ability to engage, organize, and grow political power within the Iranian-American community will help us to build a brighter, safer, and more just future that makes us all proud."
- Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
"Whether it is standing up for peace and diplomacy, or taking a stand against xenophobic discrimination, I know that NIAC is an ally that won't back down."- Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
"Whether it is standing up for peace and diplomacy, or taking a stand against xenophobic discrimination, I know that NIAC is an ally that won't back down."
- Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
"I admire the grassroots model that your organization has adapted and your organizational values for engagement, justice, respect and transparency. I will continue to be a firm supporter of your organization." - Congresswoman Barbara Lee
"I admire the grassroots model that your organization has adapted and your organizational values for engagement, justice, respect and transparency. I will continue to be a firm supporter of your organization."
- Congresswoman Barbara Lee
All Updates >>

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NIAC in the News

House Responds to Israeli-Iranian Missile Exchange by Taking Rights Away From Americans

“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.”

CBC As It Happens: Israel Iran Strike

"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."

NIAC’s Jamal Abdi on the risks of regional war between Iran and Israel

‘Disastrous’: Israel-Iran tensions test limits of US policy amid Gaza war

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.

‘Frog being boiled’: US troop deaths in Jordan incite Republican Iran hawks

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.

Congress forms caucus to aid Iranian ex-terror group

“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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NIAC is funded by the Iranian-American community and prominent American foundations, and is the proud recipient of the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency. NIAC is an independent organization and does not receive funds from the United States government nor from the Iranian government.

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