NIAC Holds Capitol Hill Briefing on Internal Political Situation in Iran

Washington, DC – NIAC held a briefing yesterday for three Members of Congress and nearly 50 Hill staffers, discussing internal political factions in Iran as well as the developments in the country within the past year. Arash Aramesh, Research Associate at The Century Foundation, explained the complexities of Iran’s governmental institutions and its effect on decision-making on foreign policy issues. The briefing was moderated by Jamal Abdi, NIAC’s Policy Director.

With sanctions on the immediate horizon, Aramesh stressed the need for targeted sanctions in Iran rather than broad or crippling sanctions. The latter, he argued, would only increase the suffering of the Iranian people; it would be prudent to target sanctions towards the country’s human rights abusers, he said.

Aramesh expressed strong support for HR 4303, the Stand With the Iranian People Act (SWIPA). The bill calls for targeted sanctions on members of the Revolutionary Guard as well as government individuals who abuse human rights, while simultaneously relaxing restrictions on American NGO’s working in Iran on humanitarian missions.

The briefing was part of NIAC’s US-Iran Policy Program, which is supported by the Ploughshares Fund, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Kenbe Foundation.