Building Political Power
Dear John,
We want to wish you a happy Independence Day on behalf of the whole NIAC team. For many of us, this Fourth of July feels unlike any other in our lifetime. As our country struggles with pandemic, social unrest, and political dysfunction, the tension between the America we strive for and the America in which we actually live has rarely felt so acute. Yet, rather than take a pessimistic view of our future, in many ways this moment feels like a generational reckoning we can no longer afford to ignore.
I am proud as an American to demand my right to be inside the civic arena, wrestling with these challenges whether in the halls of power or on the streets. Whether it is the need for a government that is truly responsive to its people; for institutions that are able to competentently serve, free from corruption; or to finally confront systemic racism and inequality in our society — I am optimistic that these tumultuous times will galvanize more Americans from communities like ours to answer the call to engage and ensure a more just and democratic America prevails.
So on this Independence Day, I hope you'll join me in taking a moment to reflect on what the ideals of this country really mean to us and the role we can all play in realizing that vision.
With hope for freedom & justice for all
به امید آزادی و عدالت برای همه
Jamal Abdi
President, NIAC
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Advancing Peace & Diplomacy
We're proud to announce the release of our bold new report, A Maximum Pressure Exit Strategy: Returning to & Building on the Iran Nuclear Deal, which examines how the U.S. could end its failing maximum pressure campaign on Iran, return to and build on the Iran nuclear deal, and pursue negotiation tracks with Iran. The report explores how a potential Biden administration could restore the diplomatic gain lost under Trump–all while setting the stage for future diplomatic breakthroughs with Iran.
Read the full report >
The report release was accompanied by an expert panel discussion featuring Joe Cirincione of Ploughshares, Suzanne DiMaggio of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, NIAC President Jamal Abdi, and moderator Sanam Shantyaei of France24. The powerful discussion touched on everything from the Trump administration's failing Iran policies to Iran's response of noncompliance. By the end of the panel, the totality of the panelists' insights made clear just how remarkably resilient the Iran deal remains.
🎧 Did you miss the panel? No worries! Now you can listen on the go. Listen to the panel here then subscribe to our podcast, NIACast, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to hear the full discussions from past NIAC events. And check out some of our favorite moments below!
As the Senate gears up to pass its annual defense authorization bill, the country is again reminded of the extent to which the U.S. outspends the rest of the world militarily at the expense of addressing pressing domestic issues impacting everyday Americans. That's why we're proud to join 61 organizations in signing a letter supporting an amendment from Senators Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey mandating a 10% cut in the Pentagon budget and a reallocation of resources toward vital domestic needs.
But, if this amendment is to succeed we need your representatives to hear from you! Just dial 844-ACT-NIAC and ask you Senators TODAY to support the Sanders-Markey amendment to mandate a ten percent cut in the Pentagon budget.
📌 Read the full letter and learn more here >
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Community & Culture
In honor of Pride month, NIAC invited the Iranian-American community to join in a campaign to showcase their #IAPride. The stories covered everything from coming out to navigating dual identities to proclamations of support and allyship, and they served as a reminder that, just as Iranian Americans add to the rich diversity of the United States, LGBTQ+ Iranian Americans add to the depth and strength of our own community.
To those who shared your stories, photos, and messages—including members of our own team at NIAC—we are grateful for your willingness to share and humbled by your courage. And we couldn't be more proud of our community for showing up and demonstrating such love and support to all those who took the time to inspire and further educate our community by sharing their struggles, successes, and #IAPride.
🌈 Read, watch, and listen to the full collection of powerful stories of pride and allyship at IAPride.com!
And make sure to check out NIAC Senior Research Fellow Assal Rad's piece in The Advocate: Why Pride 2020 Is All About Black Lives Matter.
Securing Equitable Immigration
What You Need to Know: New Presidential Proclamation Restricting H-1B, H-2B, J, and L Visas
Late last month, President Trump expanded a growing web of restrictions on the entry of certain immigrants entering the United States under the guise of slowing the spread of COVID-19 and preserving jobs for American workers. The proclamation also adds additional categories of visas to a previous Proclamation issued this past April, which also suspended immigrants with certain visas from entering the country. The new order went into enforcement on June 24, 2020 and will remain in effect until December 20, 2020, with the possibility of being extended.
While this order may not affect many Iranians given the the Muslim Ban and previous Proclamations, the prospect of normalizing the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies is enormously concerning. The NIAC team will be carefully monitoring the implementation of this new order as we continue our fight to secure equitable immigration policies in the United States. If you have any questions or concerns about the impact of this order, please email us at [email protected].
📌 Read more >
Spotlighting Human Rights in Iran
Human rights activists have reported that three young Iranian men are at risk of execution after the Iranian Supreme Court upheld their initial verdict. Amir-Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi, and Mohammad Rajabi were arrested in the aftermath of Iran’s November 2019 protests and faced charges of committing acts of armed violence and participation in vandalism. Iran Human Rights News Agency (HRANA) reported that the Iranian Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences for the three defendants earlier this week.
Iranians have again taken to social media to express their rightful anger over the continued unjust treatment of protestors and the reprehensible verdict given to these young men. The Iranian government must secure the right to protest and due process that allows for fair trials for all its citizens. Violence against protestors, televised confessions, and unjust imprisonment must be condemned and will not stop Iranians from demanding their lawful rights. Read more >
Biden Can Reverse Trump’s Failures on Iran
Jamal Abdi and Ryan Costello for Responsible Statecraft
“We may never know if a more responsible successor administration could have capitalized on the hard work of the Obama administration and built on the JCPOA. But if a President Biden is in a position to return to the JCPOA in January of 2021, he would be well advised to take the win by getting back into the accord, then seeking to build on it through aggressive diplomatic engagement.” Read more >
Iran Is Becoming Immune to U.S. Pressure
Sina Toossi for Foreign Policy
“U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 5 that Iran should not wait until after the presidential election ‘to make the Big deal,’ but can get a ‘better deal’ with him now. However, while Trump may want to negotiate with Iran and reinforce his self-avowed reputation as a deal-maker before the U.S. election, his ‘maximum pressure’ policy has all but eliminated the chance for U.S.-Iranian diplomacy in the months to come.” Read more >
Why Pride 2020 is All About Black Lives Matter
Assal Rad for The Advocate
“The Black Lives Matter protests shake the very core of our conception of the United States. If we are truly a country founded on the principles of liberty and equality, we must face our demons. While Pride is an important time for the LGBTQ+ community to feel acknowledged as equal members of our society, this moment calls on all marginalized people to come together in support of something bigger than ourselves.” Read more >
How John Bolton & Mike Pompeo thwarted Trump’s plan to get a deal with Iran
Sina Toossi for Responsible Statecraft
“Former national security adviser John Bolton’s new book gives a window into President Donald Trump’s preferred style of negotiation. Bolton paints a picture of a Trump who wants deals but does not believe in conventional diplomacy. Instead, Trump approaches international relations with the real-estate market tactics he formulated in “The Art of the Deal.” Trump thought Bolton would help him in this regard. He was sorely mistaken.” Read more >
Iran Unfiltered: Rouhani Gives Conditions for US Negotiations
 In the latest Iran Unfiltered, NIAC Senior Research Analyst Sina Toossi delves into the recent explosions in Tehran, Iran's ongoing battle to combat COVID-19, Rouhani's detailing of conditions needed to negotiate with the United States, and more.
📰 Read the latest Iran Unfiltered >
📥 Subscribe to receive Iran Unfiltered in your inbox >
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