FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trita Parsi, President, 202.386.2303, [email protected]
Reza Marashi, Research Director, 206.383.9173, [email protected]
Jamal Abdi, Vice President of Policy, 206.369.2069, [email protected]
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Experts Available to Discuss Trump’s Iran Nuclear Deal Decision
Experts from the National Iranian American Council are available to discuss President Trump’s upcoming decision on whether or not to certify the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal. Should Trump ignore the advice of his national security advisers and fail to certify, despite Iran’s continued compliance, the odds of an Iranian nuclear weapon and war with Iran will dramatically increase.
Trump is required to issue a certification to Congress every 90 days indicating that Iran is complying with the terms of the JCPOA and that staying in the accord remains in the national interest. If he follows through on his threats to withhold certification, Congress could kill the JCPOA through the front door by snapping back sanctions or through the back door by escalating non-nuclear sanctions and issuing unacceptable ultimatums.
The following experts at the National Iranian American Council are available to provide clear and nuanced analysis of Trump’s decision, its impact on the nuclear deal and how it will reverberate in Iran:
Trita Parsi: Trita is the 2010 recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. He is the founder and president of the National Iranian American Council and an expert on civil rights and US-Iranian relations. Trita’s book, “Losing an Enemy” is considered the definitive book on Obama’s historic nuclear deal with Iran which focuses on Obama’s deeply considered strategy toward Iran’s nuclear program and reveals how the historic agreement of 2015 broke the persistent stalemate in negotiations that had blocked earlier effort.
Parsi’s articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Financial Times, Jane’s Intelligence Review, The Nation, The American Conservative, The Jerusalem Post, The Forward, and others. He is a frequent guest on CNN, PBS’s Newshour with Jim Lehrer, NPR, the BBC, and Al Jazeera. Follow Trita on Twitter: @tparsi
Recent analysis:
Trita’s oped for Fareed Zakaria’s CNN Newsletter: The Real Risk in Trump’s Iran Gambit, http://mailchi.mp/cnn/the-real-risk-in-trumps-iran-gambit?e=55d825dabd
Watch Trita on BBC responding to the idea that Trump’s new Muslim ban is “reasonable and justified”: https://www.facebook.com/NIACouncil/videos/10155221509368938
Watch Trita on MSNBC discussing Trump in Saudi Arabia: https://www.facebook.com/NIACouncil/videos/10155485192243938/
– The Coming Crisis With Iran, New York Times
– Trump is conflating Pyongyang with Tehran. The results could be catastrophic, The Guardian
– Netanyahu Is Meeting Trump To Push For War With Iran, Huffington Post
Reza Marashi: Reza joined NIAC in 2010 as the organization’s first Research Director. He came to NIAC after four years in the Office of Iranian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Prior to his tenure at the State Department, he was an analyst at the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) covering China-Middle East issues, and a Tehran-based private strategic consultant on Iranian political and economic risk. Marashi is frequently consulted by Western governments on Iran-related matters.
Reza’s articles have appeared in The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and The Atlantic, among other publications. He has been a guest contributor to CNN, NPR, BBC, TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Financial Times, among other broadcast outlets.
Recent analysis:
Watch Reza Marashi on CNN discussing ISIS terror attacks against targets in Iran here: https://www.facebook.com/NIACouncil/videos/10155545528958938/
Watch Reza Marashi give his take on the Iran Nuclear Deal: https://www.facebook.com/NIACouncil/videos/10154909407473938/
– This bombast from Trumpland was a gift to the Iranian government, Middle East Eye
– Trump and Israel Must Not Conflate North Korea Nuclear Threat With Iran, Haaretz
Jamal Abdi: Jamal is the Policy Director for the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and the Executive Director of NIAC Action. He leads NIAC’s advocacy and education on civil rights and immigration issues, as well as diplomacy with Iran. He formerly served as Policy Advisor on foreign affairs, immigration, and defense issues in the U.S. Congress. Abdi has written for The New York Times, CNN, Foreign Policy, and blogs at The Huffington Post. He is a frequent guest contributor in print, radio, and television, including appearances on Al Jazeera, NPR, and BBC News. Follow Jamal on Twitter: @jabdi
Recent Analysis:
Watch Jamal Abdi discuss the Iran nuclear deal on Al Jazeera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=889EPgBn5vk&feature=youtu.be
– Democrats, so focused on Russia, risk pushing Trump to war with Iran, The Hill
– Why Give Trump The Keys To War With Iran?, The Huffington Post
About NIAC: The National Iranian American Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the voice of Iranian Americans and promoting greater understanding between the American and Iranian people. We accomplish our mission through expert research and analysis, civic and policy education, and community building.
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