President's Message
Dear John,
Our community faces urgent challenges. In just the past couple weeks, UN “snapback” sanctions [[link removed]] on Iran came back into force, reviving measures that punish ordinary people and bury prospects for diplomacy. Here at home, ICE has unleashed mass deportations [[link removed]] of our community members; planes are already flying hundreds of Iranian nationals back into danger. And just over the weekend, an explosive report from Haaretz exposed a massive Israeli disinformation campaign [[link removed]] across media and digital spaces that manufactures consent for war.
T hese are not isolated headlines; they are connected signs of a system bent on war abroad and repression at home.
That is why NIAC’s work could not be more essential. We are fighting on two fronts: to stop another catastrophic war with Iran and to defend the civil rights of Iranian Americans here in the United States. The stakes are enormous, but so is our power when we act together.
This fall, we must raise the resources to meet the moment. Your support makes it possible for us to mobilize against war, defend families under threat of deportation, and grow a movement rooted in justice and diplomacy. Every dollar raised helps us keep pressure on Congress, expand frontline support for our community, and ensure our collective voice cannot be ignored.
And in this noisy, dangerous political climate, we are also investing in truth. NIAC Insights [[link removed]] , our new Substack publication, delivers timely, evidence-based analysis of U.S.-Iran relations and Iranian American civil rights. When policymakers, journalists, and our community need clarity, NIAC Insights ensures the facts, and our voices, cut through.
Together, we are charting a path forward: resisting war, protecting our community, and organizing for justice.
👉 Subscribe to NIAC Insights today [[link removed]] to receive trusted updates in your inbox.
👉 Make a donation this fall [[link removed]] to power our fight for diplomacy, peace, and civil rights.
Additionally, if you or your loved ones have been impacted by these recent deportations, or if you need further assistance, resources, or have questions for any reason, please visit NIAC’s Travel Ban and Immigrant Justice Center [[link removed]] . Our hub offers guides, legal resources, and tools to help navigate these threats and protect our community.
In this frightening political moment, I wish you steadiness and solidarity. As always, we will not face this alone.
In Solidarity,
Jamal Abdi NIAC Action Executive Director[[link removed]]
Citizen Lab Exposes Israeli Disinformation Campaign Targeting Iranians During Bombing
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Citizen Lab has published a bombshell report [[link removed]] revealing how Israel deployed artificial intelligence and social media bots to push Iranians to rise up against their government while Israel was bombing Iran. An investigative report from Haaretz [[link removed]] corroborates these findings and adds that Israel has backed a large-scale inauthentic influence campaign promoting former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.
This is the latest report in a growing body of evidence that Israel is funding a coordinated disinformation network to attack pro-diplomacy Iranian voices and manufacture consent for externally imposed regime change.
The same tactics exposed by Citizen Lab and Haaretz have also been turned against Iranians in the diaspora, including during the 2022 protests when policymakers, experts and organizations like NIAC were falsely attacked. Social Forensics extensively documented these state-sponsored manipulation efforts here [[link removed]] . These attacks have been designed to divide Iranians, silence dissent, and strip away our collective power - both in Iran and in the diaspora - to manufacture consent for war. These efforts aim to fracture Iranian society precisely because the forces organizing these attacks can’t build power organically.
W e won’t be silent while our community is attacked by warmongerers. Support our work to fight back and expose the truth here [[link removed]] .
Making Headlines: Our Work in the Media
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The Washington Post: [[link removed]] “ Trump executive order targets nations that detain U.S. citizens ,” featuring NIAC.
The Washington Post: [[link removed]] “ U.S. to deport immigrants to Iran, Tehran says, raising human rights concerns ,” featuring NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello.
The Independent: [[link removed]] “ Trump administration sending 100 people back to Iran after deal with Tehran despite fears over their safety ,” featuring NIAC President Jamal Abdi.
Daily Mail: [[link removed]] “ Bombed out Iran slammed with sanctions as UN turns up heat – and it's about to get worse ,” featuring NIAC President Jamal Abdi.
Yahoo News [[link removed]] via The New Republic [[link removed]] : “ Trump Makes a Deal With Iran to Deport Even More Immigrants ,” featuring NIAC.
Border Report: [[link removed]] “ Hundreds of Iranians held on US immigration charges will be deported to Iran, Tehran official says ,” featuring NIAC President Jamal Abdi.
Sacramento Bee: [[link removed]] “ Sens. Schiff and Padilla Continue Arming Israel, Ignoring Genocide, Famine ” op-ed co-authored by NIAC National Organizing Director Myriam Sabbaghi
NIAC Insights: [[link removed]] “ Snapback Sanctions: The Final Nail in Iran Diplomacy ,” by NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello.
NIAC Insights: [[link removed]] “ Israel Planned When and How to Strike Iranian Civilians, Leaked Transcripts Show ,” by NIAC President Jamal Abdi.
NIAC Insights: [[link removed]] “ The Fallout of 9/11 Persists Today, and So Do We - Reflections from NIAC Over 20 Years Later ,” by NIAC Organizing Director Etan Mabourakh.
Snapback Sanctions on Iran
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Memo: UN Snapback Sanctions on Iran Now in Effect, Risks of War Rising [[link removed]]
On Sunday, September 28, six prior UN Security Council Resolutions on Iran came back into effect, finalizing the “snapback” process set up in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and triggered by European powers in late August.
Learn more about what this means and further insights here. [[link removed]]
NIAC Condemns ICE Deportations of Iranians
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NIAC Condemns Deportation of Iranian Nationals Amid Ongoing Civil Rights Abuses [[link removed]]
Jamal Abdi, NIAC President, issued this statement regarding reports that the U.S. has chartered a plane to deport approximately 100 Iranian nationals to Iran, and will deport hundreds more to Iran in the months to come. In the days that followed the June war against Iran, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) touted the arrest of 130 nationals from Iran [[link removed]] .
NIAC Insights
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NIAC Insights on Substack [[link removed]]
This new space will bring you timely analysis, fresh perspectives, and trusted updates at the intersection of U.S.-Iran relations and Iranian American civil rights. At a moment when disinformation and sensational headlines dominate the news cycle, NIAC Insights cuts through the noise with clarity and evidence-based perspectives from our policy and advocacy team.
You’ll find:
* Policy Analysis: In-depth examinations of U.S.-Iran diplomacy and regional developments.
* Community Impact: How shifting policies directly affect Iranian Americans and the wider diaspora.
* Civil Rights & Justice: Coverage of challenges facing our community and the fight for equality.
* Iran Unfiltered: Our signature weekly digest tracking Iran’s politics and society.
Subscribe to NIAC Insights! [[link removed]]
Peace & Diplomacy
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No War with Iran Action Hub [[link removed]]
NIAC’s centralized platform delivers timely updates, analysis, and calls to action to mobilize public pressure, especially through Congress, against U.S. or allied military escalation toward Iran.
Netanyahu’s UN Tirade Signals Push for War With Iran [[link removed]]
September 26, 2025 – NIAC warned that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s incendiary UN speech signals a dangerous push for prolonged war with Iran, underscoring his intent to drag the U.S. into another costly conflict while diplomacy remains the only viable path to peace.
NIAC Leads 69 Organizations In Condemning Senator Cory Booker’s Vote Against Blocking Weapons Sales to Israel [[link removed]]
September 25, 2025 – NIAC and 68 partner organizations condemned Senator Cory Booker’s vote to greenlight U.S. weapons sales to Israel amid its assault on Gaza, warning the decision enables violations of humanitarian law and urging him to oppose future arms transfers, condition U.S. aid, and support a ceasefire.
Can Congress Block the Bombs? [[link removed]]
September 24, 2025 – NIAC Action reaffirmed its support for the Block the Bombs Act, landmark legislation to halt U.S. weapons transfers to Israel amid its genocidal campaign in Gaza, stressing the bill’s urgency in upholding U.S. and international law, preventing regional war, including with Iran, and aligning with the growing public demand to end complicity in war crimes.
Action Needed to Avert Renewed War: NIAC Responds to Pezeshkian’s UN Address [[link removed]]
September 24, 2025 – President Pezeshkian’s UN address underscored Iran’s commitment to peace and rejection of nuclear weapons, but warned that without direct U.S.-Iran negotiations, the region risks sliding back into war, urging both Washington and Tehran to show flexibility to secure a diplomatic breakthrough.
NIAC Statement: Trump’s Claim Iran is a “Problem Solved” Masks Risk of Another War [[link removed]]
September 23, 2025 – President Trump’s UN claim that Iran is a “problem solved” dangerously masks the risk of renewed war, stressing that only direct U.S.-Iran diplomacy can break the current escalatory cycle and prevent further conflict.
“U.S. and Iran Must Talk”: NIAC Calls for Trump–Pezeshkian Meeting to Stop Another War [[link removed]]
September 22, 2025 – NIAC urged Presidents Trump and Pezeshkian to meet directly during the UN General Assembly, warning that without urgent diplomacy the U.S. risks being dragged into another catastrophic war with Iran and emphasizing that only leadership and direct talks can forge a path to peace.
آمریکا و ایران باید گفت‌وگو کنند: نایاک خواستار دیدار ترامپ و پزشکیان برای جلوگیری از جنگی دیگر شد [[link removed]]
Three Years After Mahsa/Jina Amini’s Killing, ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ Endures Against Repression and War [[link removed]]
September 16, 2025 – Three years after Mahsa/Jina Amini’s killing, the Woman, Life, Freedom movement continues to challenge state repression, foreign war, and deportations, with Iranians demanding dignity, justice, and equality despite ongoing violence and imprisonment.
NIAC Statement on New Iran-IAEA Agreement [[link removed]]
September 9, 2025 – A new agreement between Iran and the IAEA to resume nuclear inspections was hailed as a key step to reduce proliferation risks and avert renewed war, with calls for all parties to use this diplomatic opening to restore inspector access and return to negotiations.
NIAC Statement on Potential Executive Order Restricting American Travel to Iran [[link removed]]
September 5, 2025 – Reports that President Trump may restrict American travel to Iran drew warnings that such a ban would amount to collective punishment of Iranian Americans, further isolate families, and erode the community’s freedom to reunite with loved ones.
Civil Rights
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Travel Ban and Immigrant Justice Resource Center [[link removed]]
NIAC's Travel Ban & Immigrant Justice Resource Center supports Iranian Americans facing growing threats, from ICE raids and deportations to travel bans and denaturalization. The center offers legal resources, know-your-rights guides, and tools to take action.
نسخه فارسی راهنما را اینجا بخوانید [[link removed]]
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ICE Tracker [[link removed]]
Our team created and is maintaining a regularly updated community tracker of publicly available information on Iranian nationals detained by ICE in 2025. This is not a complete list, and does not reflect full data on all Iranian nationals detained by ICE.
NIAC Supports Legal Efforts to Defend Iranian-American Civil Rights [[link removed]]
September 16, 2025 – Legal efforts challenging discriminatory immigration delays, property restrictions, and travel bans marked key wins for Iranian Americans, with courts recognizing the severe harms of family separation, pushing back against revived “alien land laws,” and setting precedents against unjust visa denials.
NIAC Statement on Potential Executive Order Restricting American Travel to Iran [[link removed]]
September 5, 2025 – Reports that President Trump may restrict American travel to Iran sparked concern that such a move would punish Iranian Americans, cut families off from loved ones, and deepen isolation while doing nothing to end wrongful detentions.
Iran Unfiltered
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Iran’s Snapback Sanctions: Economic Fallout, Domestic Reactions, and Diplomatic Fault Lines [[link removed]]
September 29, 2025 – The return of UN snapback sanctions has deepened Iran’s economic crisis, sparked fierce domestic debate over the NPT and the future of diplomacy, and exposed widening geopolitical rifts as Tehran leans on Russia and China to blunt Western pressure while the rial plunges and inflation soars.
When the Music Ends in Exile: Remembering Hooshmand Aghili and Jacqueline Derdarian [[link removed]]
September 11, 2025 – The Iranian music community mourned the passing of Hooshmand Aghili, a renowned singer bridging classical and popular traditions, and Jacqueline Derdarian, a pioneering woman songwriter, both of whom died in exile in the U.S., leaving behind legacies that remain central to Persian music despite their unfulfilled longing to return home.
Pezeshkian’s Strategic Trip to China: A Turning Point for Iran’s Eastern Alignmen [[link removed]]
September 4, 2025 – President Pezeshkian’s high-profile trip to China underscored Iran’s pivot eastward, showcasing deepening ties with Beijing and Moscow, securing symbolic support at the SCO summit, and positioning Tehran as a key player in an emerging Eastern bloc amid intensifying Western sanctions.
Learn More
📥 Subscribe to receive Iran Unfiltered in your inbox weekly [[link removed]]
Learn More
Visit our catalog of human rights trackers [[link removed]]
📥 [[link removed]] Subscribe to receive the Human Rights Tracker in your inbox [[link removed]]
Community & Culture
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NIAC Action helped pass the MENA Inclusion Act (AB-91), which now sits on Governor Newsom’s desk, marking a historic milestone for Middle Eastern and North African communities who have long advocated for accurate representation in state data. Creating a distinct MENA category is essential to addressing disparities in health, education, and economic opportunity, and for the first time, California has the chance to formally acknowledge the diversity within this population. For Iranian Americans, this achievement represents long-overdue recognition that will ensure our community’s unique needs and contributions are seen, counted, and included in policymaking.
NIAC Grassroots Chapters Expanding:
NIAC’s Organizing Department has welcomed over 30 new national leaders since the war . We recently launched our Upper Midwest Chapter, with leaders in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan stepping up to build community and organize locally. Building on this momentum, we’re preparing to launch new Southeast and Southwest regional chapters to help empower our growing network of new leaders across Louisiana, Arizona, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and beyond.
Get Involved
Want to help organize community events like these or get involved with your local NIAC Chapter? Sign up here. [[link removed]]
In Case You Missed It
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PRESS BRIEFING: Iranian American Poll 2025 [[link removed]]
On September 19, NIAC leaders and experts presented the findings of our May–June 2025 NIAC-YouGov poll of Iranian Americans , [[link removed]] presenting the views of the community on key foreign policy and national security issues of war, peace, diplomacy, sanctions and more. These results offer crucial insight into how Iranian Americans view the most pressing issues shaping U.S. policy toward Iran at this critical moment.
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2025 Deportation Defense Training [[link removed]]
On September 17, 2025, NIAC – along with Asian Law Caucus and the New York Civil Liberties Union – hosted a special training on building community power to equip our communities for successful defense against unjust detentions and deportations. You can find a full recording of the event here [[link removed]] as well as the event slides with key information covered during the event.
During the training, Reza Zavvar shared [[link removed]] his powerful story of being detained by ICE for months after a routine walk with his dog and nearly deported to a country with no ties. His eventual release was made possible through community advocacy, legal support, and congressional inquiry facilitated by our team. For more on his case, watch our interview [[link removed]] with his sister, Maryam.
Upcoming Events
National “No Kings” Rallies October 18th [[link removed]]
Know your rights and (safely) print out our No War with Iran Posters [[link removed]] or Posters of Iranian Civilians [[link removed]] , then organize with local leaders and friends to stand with your community as part of the nationwide No Kings Day Protest - October 18, 2025 [[link removed]] , a coordinated nonviolent movement standing up against authoritarianism. To find events near you including details, registration, and local event coordination, visit the No Kings Official Website [[link removed]] . Before heading out, be sure to attend the ACLU No Kings: Protest Safety, Know Your Rights & De-Escalation Training [[link removed]] tonight on 10/6 to review essential protest safety tips and legal rights for an effective demonstration.
Stay Engaged: NIAC Online
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NIAC on Twitter/X [[link removed]]
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NIAC on T [[link removed]] ikTok [[link removed]]
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FOLLOW NIAC [[link removed]] AND JAMAL ABDI [[link removed]] ON TIKTOK
Support Our Work
We’ve already raised $138,000 toward our $400,000 goal for NIAC’s Fall Fundraising Campaign – but we still have a long way to go. Every contribution helps us fight back against snapback sanctions, mass deportations, and the march to war.
Your gift will go twice as far: all donations are being matched dollar-for-dollar right now.
👉 Make a 100% tax-deductible donation today and help power NIAC’s fight for peace, justice, and the rights of our community. [[link removed]]
Your continued support is crucial. Donate today to help us make a difference. [[link removed]]
Thank you for standing with us as we navigate these challenging times and strive for peace, justice, and human rights.unsubscribe: [link removed]